CHARLOTTE — When Dan Morgan and Dave Canales took over in their respective spots with the Carolina Panthers, they knew there was work to be done on the field. Over the past two seasons, they've set about improving just that, improving from two wins to five, then to eight.

But there was also just as much, if not more, work to be done off the field, in the locker room, and around the perceived culture, or lack thereof, shadowing the club.

Players talk. Whether it's moving to new locker rooms after a trade or free agency signing, linking up with former college teammates, or just hanging out during league-wide events such as Super Bowl and Pro Bowl week, guys share stories about their current and former teams, giving insight to others on what it's like back in their own respective locker rooms.

And the talk the past few months about the Panthers has helped change a narrative.

"We felt like players wanted to be here, as opposed to when I first took over, you know, it was maybe a little harder," Morgan said, speaking with the media on Friday to recap the Panthers moves in free agency. "So, you definitely feel that shift and guys really wanting to be here and be a part of what we're building here."

As the Panthers' new crop of free agents filtered into the building over the last two weeks, Morgan heard feedback that emphasized the kind of impact his staff's moves have had on Carolina's locker room and how that has filtered out to the rest of the league.

"Yeah, I think just, once you get the deals done and you talk to the guys, you could just feel their excitement about being here, and they all felt like our team was an up-and-coming team that was trending in the right direction," shared Morgan.

"They all heard really good things about coach Canales, the staff, and just the culture around here. So, that definitely made me believe that things are trending upwards here."

Having guys actively choose to come to a team because of its reputation and culture only works, though, if the foundation is changed. It takes having quality players in a locker room to attract quality free agents. Morgan and Canales knew what kind of atmosphere they wanted to create, and over the last couple of years, they have selected players in the draft and free agency who fit the mold.

"I think the coach has done a really good job in terms of the culture, and you have to give a lot of credit to the players in our locker room as well. We have really great guys in our locker room," bragged Morgan.

"They're not only great players, but they're great people, and that's what we're trying to bring in here. We're trying to bring in not only quality football players, but quality people and people that impact the community. And I think that's a big part of the culture around here, that family atmosphere that we're trying to attract players from the outside. They know that when they come into this building, that they have full support from ownership, myself, coach Canales.

"So we're just trying to build that family atmosphere around here to where, 'Hey, we're not valuing you just solely based on what you do on the field, but we also care about you off the field as well.' So that's the message that we're trying to send around here."

Message received.

QB moves a reflection of future

Morgan wasn't shy this offseason about his desire to get younger and more mobile at the backup quarterback position. So it wasn't a huge surprise when the Panthers added Kenny Pickett in free agency.

The 27-year-old signed with Carolina last week, initially with the plan to compete with Andy Dalton at the QB2 spot behind Bryce Young. Then, reports were shared this week indicating the Panthers' intentions to trade Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles. That move hasn't been made official yet, pending a physical, but Morgan did speak to the thought process on Friday.

"I think we feel good about our quarterback room," he explained.

"Adding Kenny Pickett, I feel like, you know adding a mobile quarterback, I think in this league, mobility, I think is big in this league. So I think adding a guy like Kenny Pickett that can move outside the pocket if he needs to, create with his legs if he needs to, I think those are all things that were really intriguing to us."

Canales has often talked about wanting to develop young quarterbacks behind Young; last year, it was Hendon Hooker for a while, until injuries precipitated a more emergency backup QB situation, and the team added veteran passer Mike White.

And Pickett was a passer Canales has been intrigued by since the former's college days at Pitt.

"Kenny was a guy that coach really wanted to work with and was fond of in the evaluation process," Morgan continued. "I'll go back to what I said before, the mobility and his ability to create with his legs, I think, was a big part of that. Obviously, he can throw the ball, and he has a lot of upside, and I think like every player, you know, he knows that he can get better at certain things, but we're excited about him."

That doesn't mean they are closed off to the idea of picking up another passer in the upcoming draft, though.

"Heading into the draft, I think there's going to be options there, whether they're the best player at the time, is yet to be seen. But if we have the opportunity to add another young guy to the mix, we'll do that," Morgan shared.

Regardless of what happens to the QB room in the future, though, the GM knows it likely wouldn't be where it is right now, with Young an entrenched and promising starter, without the help of Andy Dalton.

"Andy's a guy that we hold in high regard here," he said, thanking the longtime veteran passer who spent the last three years with Carolina, starting seven games over that span.

"He really helped Bryce come along as a rookie and into his third year. So, Andy just, he brought a lot to our franchise. I can't thank him enough for what he brought and just the type of man he is as well. So I definitely wish him the best."

Free agency moves allow flexibility with injuries

Morgan spoke to the notion more than once on Friday that moves made in free agency give the Panthers flexibility in the upcoming draft, allowing them to take the best available player instead of a huge need, since needs have been filled.

Part and parcel with that is that these moves have allowed flexibility with injury timelines.

Running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL) and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (knee) are both progressing after injuries. Brooks suffered a Week 14 injury in the 2024 season and was forced to sit out the entirety of the 2025 season, but coaches and staff have been encouraged by his rehab.

Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in the wild-card game against the Rams, an injury with a varying rehab timeline.

But by adding AJ Dillon and Rasheed Walker in free agency, Morgan hopes both Brooks and Ekwonu can continue to just focus on improving, instead of worrying about returning before they're ready.

"Brooks and Ickey, they're making progress," Morgan said. "They're with our trainers every day. They're looking good, they're working their butts off. I don't have a timeline on that to update you with, but both those guys are headed in a good direction. I think those two guys are guys that we're looking to add to our team, that they're going to hopefully be healthy at some point, and we'll just go from there.

"So, obviously, signing Rasheed Walker, we always have to have a backup plan. We always got to be prepared. There's inevitably going to be injuries in this league, and that's for every position.

"So, Rasheed Walker, we're excited about him and what he's going to be able to bring, and I think that definitely gives Ickey time to recover, and when we get him back, we'll be excited to have him back, but timeline-wise, I don't know that."

Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders suffered a broken ankle in Week 17 and underwent surgery to repair it; Morgan told reporters the third-year player has been rehabbing nicely, and they believe he will be ready in time for OTAs.

"Yeah, he's making a lot of progress," said Morgan. I think he should be ready. I see him in there every day, working with the trainers, and I've definitely gotten good reports on him. He's looking great physically, he's working his butt off, so I suspect that he'll be ready."

Morgan understands Nijman's retirement

One of the reasons the Panthers had to sign a left tackle in free agency was that the player they originally planned on playing in Ekwonu's place was no longer available.

Yosh Nijman announced his retirement last week, putting Carolina's offensive line plans in flux for a couple of days. The 30-year-old had alerted coaches that it was something he was considering, but even so, Morgan admitted he was a little taken aback by how quickly the tackle came to a decision.

But as a general manager who has been in Nijman's shoes before (Morgan played seven seasons before retiring early due to injuries), he understood Nijman's mindset.

"First off, Yosh, obviously is a, he's a really good person, a player that we did want to bring back. Me being in his shoes, as a former player, I really understand what he was going through. He was trying to decide if he wanted to play or not," Morgan explained.

"Caught us a little off guard, but, again, I've been there, I understand what he's thinking. I have a lot of respect for him and his decision, and just like every position in this league, you have to have backup plans, and I think we did a good job pivoting and adding to that position."