Panthers GM Dan Morgan reveals one of the key positions he plans to attack to return it back to its former glory
The Carolina Panthers are aiming to make the LB position a strength once again.
The Carolina Panthers are headed into a pivotal offseason after getting a taste of the playoffs during the 2025-26 season in an effort to continue building into a real contender in the NFC conference.
While the majority of the coaching staff is expected to return next season, the roster is expected to have some big changes. General manager Dan Morgan has already addressed some key areas such as improving the pass rush, adding some more speed to the passing game, and potentially adding a new QB behind Bryce Young.
Morgan recently mentioned another position that will likely see some overhaul this offseason in more ways than one to return the position back to its former glory.
Dan Morgan hints that the Panthers linebacker position will see some new faces in 2026
Last week, Morgan sat down with Kristin Balboni and former Pro Bowl linebacker Thomas Davis to discuss the upcoming offseason and the changes that are ahead for the team. One of the questions Davis asked, fittingly, involved the linebacker position and Morgan had a revealing answer.
“I think it may be a combination to where we go free agency and maybe in the draft as well,” Morgan explained. “We have to build up depth there to your point, getting injuries at that position and there being a pretty big drop off. That’s a really important position for us, it’s the guy that stands in front of the huddle and demands that respect. That’s an area we feel like we need to improve upon and we’re going to attack it just like we attack needs every year.”
Panthers fans would love to hear that because the linebacker position was easily the Achilles heel for the defense this past season and Panthers fans know what a good linebacker room is supposed to look like. Morgan should too after being on the same team as Davis and Jon Beason, not to mention the Panthers having a future Hall of Fame player in Luke Kuechly for eight seasons.
This past season, the Panthers two main starters in the second level were Christian Rozeboom and Trevin Wallace. The Panthers had some early issues to fix during the regular season after giving Wallace the green dot instead of Rozeboom. It was a smart fix that benefitted both players, but the production was still lacking from the position especially when one of the two players were injured.
With Rozeboom set to hit free agency, the Panthers were already set to be in the market for a new starting linebacker, but it’s good to hear Morgan mention the possibility of adding more than just one and potentially using free agency and the draft to do so. Here are top options to have on the radar:
Free agent linebacker options
- Devin Lloyd
- Leo Chenal
- Nakobe Dean
- Alex Anzalone
- Quay Walker
Top linebacker prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft
- Sonny Styles
- Jacob Rodriguez
- Jake Golday
- Josiah Trotter
- Deontae Lawson
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