With the 2026 NFL Draft just around the corner, it’s time to look back at some of the Carolina Panthers’ most recent draft classes and how each group has panned out.

Last year, general manager Dan Morgan had an impressive draft, as he found multiple impact players in the 2025 class. This included first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, who was recently named as a finalist for the 2025 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and second-round pick Nic Scourton.

However, when we look at his first offseason with the Panthers in 2024, Morgan may have had one of the worst drafts in recent memory.

The front office was already in a rough spot heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, as the organization did not have a first-round pick due to the massive trade-up for quarterback Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL Draft. Luckily, there were plenty of talented wide receivers in the 2024 class, which was the primary need for the Panthers.

Morgan’s first mistake would be quickly highlighted on the first night, as Carolina decided to trade up one spot to the No. 32 pick in order to take South Carolina star wide receiver Xavier Legette. At 6-foot-1, 221 lbs., the hope was that Legette could be the next coming of wideout Deebo Samuel.

Unfortunately, this would not be the case.

Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Legette has failed to take the next step in his development, as he’s recorded 84 catches for 860 yards and eight touchdowns. To make matters worse, Morgan could have stayed put and taken Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who has quickly become a terrific threat for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The struggles for Morgan would continue into the second day of the draft with the selection of Texas Longhorns’ running back Jonathon Brooks.

While many consider the young playmaker to be one of the best rushers in the draft class, his brutal injury history has caught up to him. In two seasons with the organization, Brooks has played in three games after suffering another ACL tear during his rookie season.

In addition to taking Brooks, Morgan would again dip into the Texas pipeline and take tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in the fourth round.

Sanders, despite being an earlier day-three pick, has yet to become an impact player for the Panthers, recording 62 catches for 532 receiving yards and two touchdowns in two seasons.

Luckily, the front office was able to select one key player in Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace, who would eventually turn into an everyday starter for the Panthers in 2025. But it was clear that Morgan’s efforts in the 2024 draft set the organization back a year.

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