Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan chats about roster: Six takeaways on evaluation process

Assistant GM Dan Morgan and his scouting staff will be quite busy over the next few days as the Panthers look to build their ideal 53-man roster for Week 1’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Morgan, a Carolina linebacker-turned-scouting executive, is in the middle of evaluating his current roster and the rosters of the 31 other teams in the league. So far, Morgan is optimistic about the group he has in place, but he is still excited about the opportunities that will come with the waiver wire following final cuts.

On Tuesday, Morgan met with the media to discuss the roster and the evaluation process this summer.

Here are six takeaways from Tuesday’s chat with GM Scott Fitterer’s right-hand man (plus some quick hits from elsewhere):

1. Scouting staff building a preseason board

Morgan said roughly 1,200 players will be released or waived ahead of the cut-down deadline. The staff is watching tape and researching the players on the other 31 teams this week in order to get a scope of the available talent that will be available following the Aug. 29 deadline. The group has about 1,400 scouting reports as of Tuesday, according to Morgan.

Morgan said the front office is calling other teams get an idea of their needs and who could be on the trade block ahead of the cut-down mark.

From there, the front office will make a wish list for the waiver wire to improve their team.

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2. With a top-10 priority on the waiver wire, the Panthers feel confident they can add talent

Morgan said that the Panthers’ No. 9 priority gives them a “first bite at the apple” on players they want. Obviously, there are eight teams in front of the Panthers in line, but those squads might not have similar needs or view players as similar priorities for the roster.

Morgan said the Panthers want to hang onto their draft picks after making the big trade up to the No. 1 overall pick in March. The Panthers will be without a first-round pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025, so there’s logic to maintain inventory on their picks.

But if the Panthers want to jump the line, they could work out a player-for-player deal, sending a bubble candidate to another team looking to get value for one their bubble guys. Those trades typically happen in the build up to the cut-down deadline.

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3. Panthers will weigh short-term and long-term cap maneuvering at the deadline

Morgan said the Panthers will be mindful of certain parameters within the cap situation ahead of the cut-down deadline.

For instance, vested veteran players (players with four or more years of experience) have their season salaries fully guaranteed in Week 1. The Panthers can cut those players, and in theory, re-sign them following Week 1 to avoid a guaranteed salary on the books.

Those vested veterans can also be cut without being subject to waivers. So, if the Panthers need to hold an injured player through the cut-down deadline to place them on injured reserve — with the opportunity to return — Carolina can save a spot of a young player by cutting a veteran and signing them back following an injured reserve designation without much risk.

Morgan said that keeping a veteran with a history of injuries or poor performance can lead to regret if a team guarantees their salary. That risk is worth considering during the cut-down deadline.

4. The Panthers haven’t discussed cutting their fill-in kicker

With Eddy Piñeiro (groin) on the mend, the Panthers know they’ll have their top kicker in the lineup in Week 1. But with Matthew Wright performing well in the preseason, the Panthers have the luxury of having an extra player at a major position of need around the league.

Piñeiro is the Panthers’ starting kicker. He’s earned that right, according to Morgan and head coach Frank Reich. But the front office, according to Morgan, hasn’t discussed trading Wright ahead of the deadline.

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5. Signing veterans had more to do with leadership than anything

The Panthers have brought in a lot of veterans this offseason. Morgan said signing guys like Justin Houston and Adam Thielen was just as much about leadership as talent.

Morgan said the brass felt that they needed leadership in the locker room, and those veterans can provide that. With a new regime in place, experienced leadership was important for the roster rebuilding process.

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6. The roster isn’t set

Morgan agreed with Reich’s Monday sentiment that one preseason game can change the way the roster shakes out. Morgan said some players are facing do-or-die situations heading into the team’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.

Morgan said there have been undrafted rookies who have stood out during the summer, but he chose not to name them because other teams are watching. If the Panthers want to keep a guy on the practice squad, they don’t want to risk him to the wire.

Morgan stressed that the Panthers’ projected 53-man roster isn’t set as of now.

Quick hits

▪ Guard Cade Mays (neck), who missed the matchup against the New York Giants last week, was cleared to practice on Tuesday, according to a Panthers spokesperson. Outside linebacker Jordan Thomas (thumb) was also cleared to return.

▪ The same spokesperson said linebacker DJ Johnson (knee), the team’s third-round pick, would be able to return to practice one day after leaving Monday’s workout on the back of a cart.

▪ Wideout Laviska Shenault missed Tuesday’s practice because he is in concussion protocol, according to Reich.

▪ Before practice, Reich said cornerback CJ Henderson has been “Mr. Consistency” throughout the summer. Starting cornerback Donte Jackson suffered an ankle injury against the Giants and didn’t practice to start the week. Reich said Jackson won’t play against the Lions.

▪ Wideout Javon Wims signed with the Panthers during the first week of training camp. He has impressed Reich and the staff with his toughness, blocking ability and special teams prowess since joining the organization. Wims is competing with Derek Wright, Shi Smith and others for the sixth receiver spot on the depth chart.

▪ Pass rusher Marquis Haynes (back), who returned to practice on Monday, said he is “1000%” sure he will be ready for Week 1 of the regular-season. Haynes missed the majority of training camp at Wofford College because of back ailment. He said the training and medical staff gave him a plan to attack the issue and he’s still working his way back. He said he didn’t know if he would play in the preseason finale.

▪ Reich said running back Miles Sanders’ status for Friday’s game is to be determined. Sanders missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury, but he returned to padded practice on Monday.

▪ Morgan reiterated Reich’s points on the release of Marquan McCall from Monday. Morgan said he appreciates McCall as a person and his contributions to the organization, but he didn’t fit what the staff wanted, so they moved on.