CHARLOTTE — For most teams, as soon as the calendar turns to April, they could probably draft.
But this week brought a raft of visitors to Bank of America Stadium, as a number of prospects walked the halls and met with coaches and scouts, as they put the final touches on evaluations.
Many of the names have been reported (but not all of them), and most of them aren't necessarily a surprise. But the 30 official visits have also become a matter of confusion for a lot of fans. Partially because treating them as individual pieces of content rather than part of a larger picture creates that confusion. Informing without educating is a bad mix.
Somewhere along the way, some people started calling them "Top 30" visits, maybe because they were feeling nostalgic for Casey Kasem. But that's not an accurate way to describe them, either. The visitors who were here this week covered a wide spectrum of rounds and levels of interest. The interviews are the key part of the trips, allowing teams to decide if a guy is a fit or someone they can trust. So, just because someone shows up to visit a team, that doesn't automatically mean the team is interested enough to draft them. Some teams use them as intelligence-gathering sessions on other players. Once, a guy showed up here for a visit, and the GM at the time didn't realize it had been scheduled, and wasn't necessarily thrilled about it.
And the other reason not to read too much into any of the individual names is sheer numbers.
The Panthers can bring in 30 players, plus locals, of which they've brought many. They have nine picks.
You don't need a list of names to know what they're looking for, as general manager Dan Morgan has been transparent about the need to upgrade the defense, particularly the front seven. Between that and the obvious depth-chart holes at receiver, safety, and a few other spots, you can have a reasonable estimate of what they're looking at.
But that leaves us with 13 days to fill, so we've got to talk about something, I suppose. So pre-draft visits and converted basketball players are just the thing in the middle of April. Beats talking about golf.
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Hi Old Guy! I'm a young guy from the UK and a massive fan of the Panthers - it's great to see us trending in the right direction. Anyway, How do you feel about trading down in this draft? While I like Jalon Walker as a prospect, we have quite a few positions of need and could definitely use the extra capital, perhaps getting a strong piece in the secondary like Will Johnson or Malaki Starks. — Austin, Beaconsfield, United Kingdom
Even in the UK, the most popular prospect in this year's draft might be this Trey Down kid.
In fact, it seems like more teams are interested in him than anyone else outside the top five.
Of course, that's often the case, as Trey Down can fix a multitude of problems for teams with a multitude of holes.
The problem is, there are more people eyeballing Trey Down than there are realistic chances to acquire him.
In general, adding picks is something most GMs want to do, but the obvious trade-off is that you miss out on top talents. And if you're really interested in Trey Down, you have to have someone on the board right behind him that other people want. A quarterback would serve the purpose if there were multiple teams trying to get to the top 10. But it takes people wanting to come up for you to get Down.
And yes, the Panthers could use some extra help. There's a lot of sitting and waiting between the eighth overall pick and their next one, No. 57 overall, from the Rams. If you could get back into the high 30s or 40s (their original second-rounder, No. 39 overall, belongs to the Bears, the last vestige of the Bryce Young deal), that would be ideal.
But that still leaves you trying to decide if you'd rather have Jalon Walker (or some other player), or bet that Trey Down hits his potential.
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Hi Darin! The media perception about this year's draft seems to be that there are "lots of starters to be drafted on the second day." If true, honestly, I heard a lot more than 70 players' names in this kind of talk. Again, if true, I guess the Panthers are well aware of that and ready to draft the best player on their board, especially after the second/third round with their two fourths and three fifths. Is that kind of the feeling they have about it? — Fernando, São Paulo, Brazil
I think it's very reasonable that the guy they take at 57 and the guy they take at 74 could be starters this year, depending on position. It's particularly deep at some spots where their needs are still acute.
And listen, it's fair to think they're going to look for pass-rushers (plural) through the course of this draft, and probably a receiver and a safety and another interior defensive lineman. But they're also not at the point in their development where they can ignore any other positions.
This team was not one offseason away from playoff contention when Morgan and Brandt Tilis and Dave Canales took over, and it's still going to take some time. So if you are looking at the board, and a guy who could be a starter in 2027 is staring back at you, you take him, regardless of position. Morgan knows this innately, but his position as a player tells you all you need to know about this phenomenon. The Panthers had a Dan Morgan when they drafted a Jon Beason, and they had a Jon Beason when they drafted a Luke Kuechly. Never go to the grocery store when you're hungry; that's when all the weird stuff ends up in your cart, like that time I went to Super G and came home with a banh mi sandwich and a box of goat bouillon.
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OK, it feels like every mock draft in the world has us taking Jalon Walker, and I know a pass-rusher is probably the biggest need. But what happens if he's not there? — Cliff, Cornelius, NC
Well, there are a couple layers of things happening in that short question.
Number one, groupthink has officially set in. NFL front offices aren't quite as bad as the draft industrial complex, but once you get to a certain point, outliers run the risk of looking like rubes if they're big-wrong. (The only exception is the people who deliberately seek being an outlier for attention, not caring if they're rubes or not as long as somebody interacts with them. I Thank God every day I was born without that gene, and am grateful for any influence she had on that.)
The reality is, Walker is an excellent player at a position of need, who happens to be from near here, so that checks a lot of boxes for media types who don't want to be big-wrong. It's logical and justifiable.
But other teams might also enjoy a player of his production and leadership and all the qualities he displayed at Georgia, so there's no guarantee he's even on the board when they pick (or that he'd be their preference if he was).
The good news is, it's a big board with a lot of good players. And for the Panthers, that creates a lot of opportunities.
They're at the stage in this build where they can't get locked in on one position because they're building for a time beyond this season. So that's when you can truly consider the best player available.
As much as they love Adam Thielen, Adam Thielen turns 35 in the preseason, and the rest of the depth chart includes David Moore and some second-year guys they really like. He can still play at a really high level, but it's not about just this year, so you could justify receiver.
As much as they love Taylor Moton, he's 30, doesn't practice on Thursdays for maintenance reasons, and is in the final year of his contract. He can still play at a really high level, but it's not about just this year, so you could justify tackle.
As much as they love A'Shawn Robinson for the job he did last year, he's also 30 and coming off a season when he played nearly 50 percent more snaps than the year before (762-515). He can still play at a high level, but it's not about just this year, so you could justify defensive line.
You see where we're going with this. Other than quarterback and probably guard (where they spent a pile of money in free agency last year on young ones Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis), this rule applies to practically every position on the roster. They only have three safeties on the whole roster at the moment. There's stuff to do.
So we're all kind of assuming that Cam Ward, Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, and Mason Graham are gone, and probably one of the top two tackles, Will Campbell or Armand Membou (or at least that's what the groupthink tells us). That's five. So depending on those next two picks, the Panthers could have some choices to make.
Maybe they take the other tackle, or the next-best receiver like Tet McMillan, or the top tight end Tyler Warren, or continue to shop from a group of high-end pass-rushers or defensive tackles, or start a riot and consider a really good running back in Ashton Jeanty (OK, probably not). Or maybe that's the opportunity for that Trey Down kid. And if one of those top five guys falls (other than the quarterback), you have to consider him too.
But here's what I know for sure. Something weird's probably going to happen in front of them because it always does. And anyone who believes they're locked in on one guy because all the mock drafts have him there doesn't know Dan Morgan very well.
That's the long answer to your question, Cliff. The short answer is "draft somebody else."
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Excuse me for not asking another draft question, but I have other stuff on my mind. First, what is the reason (and I hope some logic) for the inactive rule for player availability? Why is there no discussion of this like every other rule in the book? It seems to me that these numbers should be altered to keep up with the increase in the number of games required each year. Depth at positions is always an issue, but requiring more plays to be run in a season increases the need for more bodies on game day to reduce the seasonal wear and tear. Just playing, say, three to five fewer plays per game should make for better performance in Game 16 and beyond.
Second: How is the salary cap per year determined? And since working around that number seems worse than figuring out how to pay less taxes, has any thought ever been given to placing restrictions on how the cap is distributed? It may seem naive, but limiting the max a single player can be paid might improve overall team quality and reduce the temptation of top players to chase the money rather than choosing the preferred employer. After all, is the NFL really a free market? Just curious what you think. Thanks. Enjoy your coverage. — Howard, Chapel Hill, NC
Howard, I don't mind not talking about the draft. In fact, some days I prefer it. We've spent way too much of our 2025 talking draft already (it's possible we start too early), and I'm not sure any of us are getting smarter in the next two weeks.
Your first question is about the gameday inactive list. It's designed to maintain competitive balance for teams as injuries crop up through the year, e.g., if one team has six dudes hurt and the other is completely healthy, it's a way to balance the scales by making sure they have an equivalent number of people. To raise either the total number of players on the roster or the total number of dudes active each week, you'd have to pay said dudes. And that's easier for us to discuss because it ain't our money.
The salary cap is calculated by taking the total league revenues, dividing by 32 teams, and then putting 48 percent of that number (as negotiated with the players union in the CBA) back in the hands of labor. How teams want to spend their money is up to them, but unlike the NBA and other leagues, it's a hard cap, meaning you can't spend over it.
As for putting limits on individual deals, I don't see the problem with letting the market do what markets do (except on draft weekend, I suppose, when players are assigned without their input). Patrick Mahomes has a higher value than most other quarterbacks, so artificially limiting his value seems unfair. (Just as limiting the earning potential of players in college sports was unfair, and that cartel is now reaping the whirlwind it sowed for decades by exploiting its labor. But I digress.)
The highest performers should be rewarded since they are the people the fans are paying to see. The problem for teams isn't capitalism; it's the challenge of using their resources well or poorly.
Since I believe in free will even more strongly than I do markets, putting restraints on people who have found efficiencies isn't right either. The league created a system that gives everyone a chance, but it's up to each team what they do with that chance.
And for giving me an excuse to pontificate on markets, I'll go ahead and make you this week's Friend Of The Mailbag, and get the appropriate honorarium on the way.
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Hi Darin! With best buds Chuba and Tommy coming back, it got me wondering: what are some of the more unlikely pairs you've seen through the years? — Jake, Rochester, NY
Chuba Hubbard and Tommy Tremble might not be the buddy cop movie we deserve, but it's the buddy cop movie we need.
There is something pure about these two, a friendship between two cats from different worlds forged by shared struggle.
And they started out as different as Edmonton and Atlanta. They didn't just begin hanging out at the Jugs machine because it was cool; they did it because they were trying to get on the field and wanted to get better.
But they are adorable together, so I'm glad they get to remain together. When Tremble signed his deal, and Hubbard was there taking pictures on the side, it was like Tommy had two proud dads in the building.
That's one of the interesting and borderline-hopeful-for-humanity things about a football locker room. People from different backgrounds and places can get to the same spot and realize they have more in common than separates them. (Spread the word.)
There's no better example in team history than wide receiver Steve Smith and his sensei — kicker John Kasay, of course.
Smith grew up in South Central Los Angeles. Kasay grew up in North Central Georgia. The visible differences only began there. But there was more to that relationship than met the eye.
Smith grew to trust Kasay, and trust was always a high barrier to clear with him. When other people thought they knew how Steve worked, John was often the only one who could unlock him. And while Steve moved toward Kasay in certain ways over the years, Kasay was more like Smith than many realized, too. Kicking is a solitary and stressful job, so fighting through that isolation requires a certain mental strength. Kasay had it.
I once asked Steve which teammate he'd want next to him if he got in a fight. His answer was immediate.
"Miss or make, he's my boy," Smith said with an absolutely straight face. "If I'm going into a back alley, I want John."
It may have seemed odd on the surface. But it worked for them.
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Darin, first-time submission. I will say that I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes videos that you all did last offseason. I do not know if this is logistically possible, but I wouldn't mind seeing something like a normal week for someone in the scouting department, whether it be pro or college personnel. I realize that they travel across the country based upon their assigned territory, but I think that would be a cool view. Keep up the great work and I'm thinking that this is our year to replace Tampa as the division kingpin. — John, Raleigh, NC
Thanks, John. There's more coming your way. We'll have the usual array of behind-the-scenes draft content for you.
Love the idea of following one guy. Morgan did that when he was with the Bills, and it was an interesting look at his process (along with the Matthew McConaughey cameo).
Stay tuned for more, and enjoy all the Morgan breakdowns of the free agents on our YouTube channel, and hit subscribe for more.
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And on that note, let's go lightning round, brought to you by the patron saint of the lightning round Jeff from Fuquay-Varina, to close it out this week.
I know you're not a golf guy, so egg salad or pimento cheese? — Will, Rock Hill, SC
Why not both? Just as there's a club for every shot, there's a sandwich for every day. It was cool earlier this week, so I went toasted pimento cheese and soup, and it was good for my soul.
I'd eat egg salad every day if I could, though that would likely cut into my social life. But if you're eating egg salad every day, you're swimming around in a pool of doubloons like Scrooge McDuck, so who cares?
Trade to get a good WR 1 for Bryce, and please draft Jalon Walker. He will be good at the edge. — Rodney, Salisbury, NC
Salisbury has spoken. I wonder why? (Also, a lot of other places agree).
What does your local psychic, tarot card reader, or your Ouija board say about how the Panthers approach this draft? — Ed, Auburn, NY
That's one way to avoid the groupthink. Go straight to the supernatural. I don't own a Ouija board myself (it's better to rent). I wonder if I could expense that?
