As the Carolina Panthers begin to close the door on an incredible season that resulted in the franchise reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017, it’s clear that general manager Dan Morgan must build off the recent success this offseason.

While the 2026 NFL Draft continues to be the main headline for the Panthers, Morgan and the front office will first have to navigate their way through the free agency period in order to prepare for the big day. However, Carolina needs to make multiple moves this offseason to free space for any potential free agent signings.

As of February, the Panthers currently have roughly $14 million in cap space before the free agency window opens, which could hamper the organization from making any massive signings.

Luckily, there are some veterans on the roster who could be cut to give Morgan money, including defensive end Patrick Jones II.

Jones, a former third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, was unable to become a true difference-maker for the organization throughout his tenure.

This resulted in the 28-year-old hitting the free agency market heading into last offseason, and with how poor the Panthers’ front four looked prior to the 2025 NFL season, Morgan took a shot on Jones and signed him to a two-year, $15 millon deal. At the time, Jones’ deal looked as if it could pay off in the long run for Carolina, but this was simply not the case.

Despite many projecting Jones to play a significant role on defense, the former Pitt standout managed to play in just four games this past season. This was due to the veteran sustaining a herniated disk injury back in week six, which caused him to miss the rest of the season.

Fortunately for head coach Dave Canales, the emergence of rookie Nic Scourton helped the defense with Jones on the sidelines. The Panthers’ second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft finished the year with 48 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble, giving the team hope that he could become a key playmaker within the trenches.

Now that Scourton has finally begun to solidify himself, Morgan could part ways with Jones this offseason. Cutting the veteran defender would free up nearly $5 million in cap space, which gives the Panthers almost $20 million in cap room to sign multiple free agents.