CHARLOTTE — Panthers general manager Dan Morgan knows what the problems are with his current roster, and he used the word "aggressive" five times during his season-ending press conference Monday.

But as he transitions into his second offseason putting together the roster he used to be a part of, he also wants to build this thing the right way.

"I'm not really into quick fixes," Morgan said. "I don't think there's such thing as a quick fix. Obviously, you want to fix things as soon as possible. But I'm just going to go into it as, hey, listen, we know where we were on the defensive side of the ball. We do have to continue to add playmakers on that side of the ball, so I just think we have to look at every avenue and explore every avenue to find those playmakers.

"And, hey, if we find somebody and we like somebody, whether trade, whether draft, whether the free agency, we're going to explore every path."

Morgan is well aware that the defense needs to be the priority this offseason.

He described keeping cornerback Jaycee Horn the same way he described defensive tackle Derrick Brown last offseason, just before he signed Brown to a long-term contract extension before he went into the final year of his rookie deal.

"I think I said that to you guys the last time I talked to you guys," Morgan said. "That Jaycee is obviously the focal point of the defense, somebody that we're going to want here long-term, and, and we're going to work on getting him a long-term deal."

But he used similar language about left tackle Ikem Ekwonu — like Brown and Horn, a first-round pick, and one they have to make a decision on his fifth-year option by May.

"I see Ickey as a piece that we want around here for a long time," Morgan said.

He might have played linebacker, but he knows he has to build an entire roster and do it sustainably.

Having quarterback Bryce Young bounce back in the second half of the year as well as he did is obviously a big part of that, and there are other things the offense needs (such as another receiving target, a backup quarterback, and a center since all the ones on the roster are free agents). He also has a special teams group that hit free agency at the same time.

Those discussions will go on for the next few weeks, but as Morgan gets into the part of the job he loves the most — scouting, and he's about to make the loop from the East-West practices, to Senior Bowl week, to the combine — he's on particular lookout for guys who can make things better on defense.

The Panthers set an all-time record for points allowed and finished the year second all-time in total yards allowed and third in rushing yards allowed. The problem is clear.

And while bringing a Pro Bowl defensive tackle such as Brown back is like having an extra top-10 pick, he knows he needs to add impact players with his free agency money and the No. 8 overall selection.

"We have a process, we're going to be really thorough in that process," Morgan said. "I think again, just going back to previous conversations, we just have to draft really good players and playmakers, guys that are difference-makers, especially in the top 10.

"So whoever that guy is, we're going to feel like it's going to be a difference-maker for us, and yeah, we'll be excited about that."

So while he knows this job is a long one, he did feel like they made some tangible strides this season.

Going 5-12 might not have been anyone's preference — Morgan said going into the year he had no expectations — but he did like what he saw as the Panthers went 3-1 in overtime games, pushed three straight playoff teams to the last moment of one-score losses, and won two of their last three to close the season.

"Obviously not the season that we really wanted in terms of the record," he said. "However, I do feel like we're making a lot of progress. Things are trending in a really good direction. I feel like the culture's changing here. Guys are starting to feel what it's like to win. We only had five wins, but it feels like the momentum's kind of building.

"I think guys are feeling good about the direction that the team's going."