Carolina Panthers News & Rumors

Panthers Request GM Interviews With Brandon Brown, Mike Greenberg, Brandt Tilis

Making the anticipated move to fire Scott Fitterer, the Panthers are joining other teams in sending out interview requests. Three have gone out as of Monday afternoon.

The Panthers want to meet with Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg and Chiefs VP of football operations Brandt Tilis, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Peter Schrager. While assistant Carolina GM Dan Morgan will have a chance to succeed Fitterer, David Tepper is hoping to bring in a handful of outside candidates.

Tepper’s actions in recent months and his general reputation during his ownership run introduce complications for his latest round of hires. But he remains the NFL’s second-wealthiest owner. That component may be important given the state of the Panthers, who do not have their first-round pick this year or their 2025 second-rounder due to the Bryce Young trade. As is the case for HC positions, there are only 32 GM jobs available. That will at least bring candidates to the table.

Tepper has already met with Tilis, who interviewed for the GM job in 2021. The Panthers conducted an expansive search that year, choosing Fitterer, who had enjoyed a successful run as a Seahawks exec. Fitterer did not have full control until Tepper fired Matt Rhule in October 2022, and the owner has referenced his own willingness to veto moves, pointing to Carolina’s GM having to contend with ownership as well. It is not known how Tepper plans to structure his next staff, in terms of handing power to the GM or head coach. That is among the notable questions Carolina faces this offseason.

As for the candidates, Tilis joins Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi in receiving early interview requests. Both have been with the team throughout its Patrick Mahomes-era rise. Tilis was a central figure in the Chiefs hammering out Mahomes’ outlier 10-year extension back in 2020, researching baseball contracts before the team came to terms with its centerpiece player on that landmark deal. The Chiefs have already needed to adjust that contract, due to the quarterback market accelerating in the years since that July 2020 extension. Tilis even predates Andy Reid in Kansas City, joining the team to start Scott Pioli‘s GM tenure back in 2009. Tilis has been in his current position since 2021.

Greenberg joins Tilis in being in his 14th season with his current employer. The Bucs exec is best known for helping the team navigate its salary cap, something that became pivotal during an all-in push centered around Tom Brady. Tampa Bay completed numerous restructures and became a piece of NFL transaction lore in 2021 by retaining its entire starting lineup plus notable backups in an effort to defend a Super Bowl title. While the Bucs could not complete that effort on the field, Greenberg’s work — which included Brady’s initial agreement, a subsequent extension and a post-retirement restructure — helped considerably. The Bucs promoted Greenberg to assistant GM last year.

The Giants hired Brown to be Joe Schoen‘s right-hand man in 2022, an offseason that featured four Eagles execs become assistant GMs elsewhere. Just 36, Brown spent five years with the Eagles, beginning his run with the team ahead of its Super Bowl LII-winning season. Howie Roseman promoted Brown to player personnel director in 2021, putting him on the radar for top lieutenant roles the following year.

Additionally, the Panthers may have their eye on another NFC South exec. Khai Harley, whom the Saints elevated to assistant GM this past offseason, is believed to be on Carolina’s radar, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Harley has helped Mickey Loomis as the team annually comes up with creative ways to free up salary cap space, being the NFL’s restructure kingpins.

Brian Burns Still Aiming To Be Paid Like Top-Tier Edge Rusher

Brian Burns did not receive an invite to another Pro Bowl and saw his sack count drop noticeably from the 2022 season, but the Panthers are still believed to have the free agent-to-be in their plans. Carolina’s recent history with Burns still gives him leverage, and he intends to use it.

The Panthers are expected to apply the franchise tag on Burns, but potential negotiations may be complicated now. The GM that had run the negotiations since Burns became extension-eligible, Scott Fitterer, received his walking papers Monday morning. A new staff will assess Burns’ value, but he has not changed his stance since the Panthers’ summer negotiations fizzled.

The Ron Rivera-era first-round pick said Monday (via ESPN’s David Newton) he is still aiming to be paid among the highest-earning edge defenders. Burns’ lofty ask this offseason was believed to have checked in around $30MM per year. That proved too much for Fitterer’s liking, but his decision-making gave Burns tremendous leverage.

Fitterer famously turned down a Rams offer that included two first-round picks and a third for Burns, and the since-fired GM also refused to include Burns in trade talks with the Bears for the No. 1 pick last March. With Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year extension changing the edge market, the Panthers were unable to hammer out a deal. Fitterer also balked at trade overtures this year.

With the Panthers using a 3-4 base defense in recent years, Burns may soon find himself in the linebacker/defensive end debate the NFL’s outdated franchise tag formula often presents edge rushers. The linebacker tag is expected to come in around $18.5MM in 2024, the D-end tag around $20.1MM. That has spurred grievances in recent years, but Burns’ salary ask will be the headline item here.

Bosa’s re-up changed the game for edge rushers, and it should be expected to produce more movement on that market this coming offseason. Prior to Bosa’s monster 49ers contract, T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-AAV deal topped the edge defender list for two years. Burns, who has just one season with double-digit sacks, has not proven himself to be in that class of pass rusher. He finished with eight sacks this season; that total is only the fourth-best of his career. Burns’ 46 career sacks rank 12th in the NFL since 2019.

The Panthers’ defense fared far better than the team’s disjointed offense, however, and Burns held up for 16 games. He should be in position to command a big-ticket deal, but with the Panthers having the tag to keep the Florida State alum off the market, it would not surprise if the sides’ stalemate continues — unless Burns drops his asking price — into the summer. While Burns wants to stay with the Panthers, this situation could be complicated for a while.

Panthers Fire GM Scott Fitterer

In a move which comes as little surprise, the Panthers have moved on from general manager Scott Fitterer. His three-year run in Charlotte is now over, and the team’s offseason will include a search for replacements both on the sidelines and in the front office.

“As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager,” a statement from owner David Tepper reads. “I appreciate Scott’s efforts and wish the best for him and his family.” 

A report from last month pointed to Fitterer being shown the door to coincide with yet another search for a new head coach. The longtime Seahawks exec had received a vote of confidence in the wake of Matt Rhule being let go, but a repeat on that front will not take place. The Panthers now join the Chargers and Raiders as teams with GM openings.

After a 5-12 campaign in his 2021 Carolina debut, Fitterer has attempted to find a long-term answer for the franchise at the quarterback position. That included the trade acquisition of Baker Mayfield last summer. The former No. 1 pick struggled mightily in Charlotte, however, and he was gone by the time the season came to an end. Running back Christian McCaffrey had been dealt away by the end of the 7-10 campaign, leaving the Panthers in need of an organizational reset.

That effort was built in large part on the blockbuster move to acquire the top pick in the 2023 draft from the Bears. The Panthers sent Chicago a package including two first-round selections, two second-rounders and wideout D.J. Moore to move to the top of the draft board. That maneuver resulted in Bryce Young being selected, something which came about after an internal decision-making process which has been the subject of considerable speculation and scrutiny.

As ex-head coach Frank Reich has made clear, Tepper played a central role in the decision to select Young over other signal-callers available (namely C.J. Stroud). Young’s struggles led to a very poor offensive showing, something which informed Reich’s dismissal after only 11 games at the helm. Regardless of how much weight his voice carried in the Young selectin, Fitterer has drawn criticism for authorizing the trade and for failing to insulate Young with an adequate offensive line in his rookie year.

Overall, the Panthers posted a 14-37 record during Fitterer’s run. That represents the league’s worst mark over that span, and with this year’s top pick belonging to the Bears, the path to contending status will be a difficult one for his replacement to navigate. Among the top priorities for the new GM will be working out the future for Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns. The former first-rounder is due to reach free agency this offseason, and either a franchise tag or a long-term deal will need to be in place to keep him in Charlotte for 2024 and beyond. Talks on an extension have not produced much traction to date, but a new face at the negotiating table could bring about progress.

While interim head coach Chris Tabor will be replaced over the coming weeks, likely by an outside candidate, the same may not be true for Fitterer’s successor. Assistant GM Dan Morgan is liked within the organization, and he has a chance to be promoted to the full-time role; ESPN’s David Newton reports Morgan will oversee personnel moves for now. Given Tepper’s less-than-stellar reputation (particularly with respect to meddling), it will be interesting to see how much of a market this vacancy generates.

2024 marks the first time in Tepper’s tenure that the Panthers have a simultaneous opening at the head coach and general manager positions. Needless to say, the coming weeks will therefore have a profound impact on the short- and long-term direction of the franchise as a rebound from this year’s 2-15 slate is sought out.

Bill Belichick Interested In Panthers?

There has been an immense amount of speculation about where Patriots head coach Bill Belichick could end up if he does part ways with New England. We’ve heard rumors about Dallas, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Washington, and Carolina. While much of this is based on speculation and fit, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports that Belichick himself has inquired with others about Panthers owner David Tepper.

Now, we recently provided a report that Tepper has established a bit of a reputation that some in league circles believe could affect the team’s ability to bring in top head coaching candidates. Since buying the Panthers back in 2018, Tepper has proven to have very little patience with head coaches. In those six years, Tepper has fired three head coaches, and the two interims before the current interim head coach, Chris Tabor, have not been retained in the following years.

Perhaps a symptom of his lack of patience, perhaps a separate issue of its own, Tepper further marred his reputation when he threw his drink into a crowd in frustration recently, warranting a $300K fine from the NFL. This evidence of behavior, paired with his noted impatience with new head coaches, has some believing that potential head coaching candidates, especially ones entering their first head coaching gigs, will be wary of teaming up with Tepper in Carolina.

Belichick isn’t exactly the type of head coach the Panthers are targeting, though. It has been made widely known that Carolina is aiming to land a young, offensive-minded head coach that can mold rookie quarterback Bryce Young and, hopefully, work alongside current defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to form a formidable coaching staff. Belichick is not that.

Still, if rumors of Tepper’s reputation prove to be true, Belichick may end up being the perfect match. Since Belichick isn’t considered a favorite candidate early, the Panthers may end up reaching out to him as a backup option, should they fail to secure the services of a Ben Johnson or a Brian Johnson. I doubt it would be either side’s first choice, but they just might end up being a perfect fit this offseason.

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

Week 18 is in the books, meaning the top 18 draft slots are locked in going into the offseason. The Commanders, Patriots, Cardinals and Chargers all lost. Only the Bolts changed positions, by virtue of the Giants’ win over the Eagles. The Giants, however, only dropped one spot through their home win.

The Falcons and Saints’ efforts to upend the Buccaneers in the NFC South did not pan out, with Tampa Bay beating two-win Carolina in its regular-season finale. This will keep Atlanta and New Orleans in much better draft positions. Despite finishing 8-9, Tampa Bay now cannot move past No. 19 without a trade.

While the Bears’ seminal decision — Justin Fields or Caleb Williams, seemingly, with all the trade and contract factors that go along with this forthcoming choice — will headline the leadup to this draft, the Commanders have secured the No. 2 selection and will have their own call to make. New owner Josh Harris showed he will help drive his front office to moves that will load up draft capital, as the Montez Sweat and Chase Young trades showed, and he is all but certain to hire a new regime in the coming weeks.

The draft’s second-best quarterback will be available to Washington, which saw its Sam Howell wire-to-wire season fail to solidify him as the team’s surefire long-term QB. Will Washington become closely connected to Howell’s North Carolina successor (Drake Maye)? The Commanders’ call will help shape how the Patriots proceed, unless New England — which is also all but certain to move on from Bill Belichick and start anew — completes a trade-up effort.

As the postseason determines the bottom 14 draft slots, here is how the top 18 look after the regular season:

  1. Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
  2. Washington Commanders: 4-13
  3. New England Patriots: 4-13
  4. Arizona Cardinals: 4-13
  5. Los Angeles Chargers: 5-12
  6. New York Giants: 6-11
  7. Tennessee Titans: 6-11
  8. Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
  9. Chicago Bears: 7-10
  10. New York Jets: 7-10
  11. Minnesota Vikings: 7-10
  12. Denver Broncos: 8-9
  13. Las Vegas Raiders: 8-9
  14. New Orleans Saints: 9-8
  15. Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
  16. Seattle Seahawks: 9-8
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
  18. Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8
  19. Green Bay Packers: 9-8
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-8
  21. Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
  22. Los Angeles Rams: 10-7
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7
  24. Miami Dolphins: 11-6
  25. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
  26. Kansas City Chiefs: 11-6
  27. Houston Texans (via Browns)
  28. Detroit Lions: 12-5
  29. Buffalo Bills: 11-6
  30. Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
  31. San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
  32. Baltimore Ravens: 13-4

Some Panthers Coaches Could Stay On Staff; OC Thomas Brown Not Expected To Be One Of Them

While several fans will be awaiting the news of the firing of their team’s head coach in the next two days, Carolina fans have already processed their loss. The normal sequence of events whenever there is a changeover at head coach for an NFL team sees most of the accompanying coaching staff also lose their jobs as the team tends to clear house, allowing the new hire the opportunity to build their staff exactly as they desire. The Panthers, with owner David Tepper at the helm, are not a normal team.

We’ve already seen an example where Tepper asserts his authority, encouraging head coaching candidates a year ago to retain special teams coordinator (and current interim head coach) Chris Tabor and offensive line coach James Campen. Both assistants were retained by the now departed Frank Reich. Whether a direct correlation or not, rookie Bryce Young ended up as the second-most sacked quarterback of the season, and Reich lost his job. So, with Tepper likely to flex his influence once again, who is likely to be vouched for to the candidates who may replace Reich?

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is a no brainer. Despite giving up the fourth-most points in the NFL this season, the Panthers defense allowed the third-fewest yards this year. The offense routinely put the other unit in bad situations, but the Carolina defense did their best to limit the damage throughout the year.

Evero, though, will be a popular candidate for open head coaching jobs, as he was last year, as well. If the Panthers hire a young, offensive-minded head coach, holding onto Evero could be a perfect recipe for success. Coordinators who leave for head coaching gigs tend to bring their staff with them, so holding on to Evero would likely result in the retention of key defensive assistants like defensive line coach Todd Wash, linebackers coach Peter Hansen, safeties coach Bert Watts, and senior defensive consultant Dom Capers.

Though Evero and his staff could likely depart for greener pastures, it’s even more likely that the staff on the offensive side of the ball won’t return for the Panthers in 2024. The likeliest to return would be Campen, who Tepper continues to back despite a brutal 2023 campaign for the Panthers’ offensive line. Campen is still a highly respected coach in the NFL and delivered a strong offensive line for Carolina in 2022. His most likely route out of Carolina may be due to his connections with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who seemingly has an outrageous amount of pull in New York.

The rest of the offensive staff, namely offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, face a much different situation. Brown is considered a rising, young mind in the league, earning several head coaching interviews last year before accepting his first coordinator position in Carolina. The coordinator title seemed mostly nominal when he arrived, though, as Reich retained play-calling duties for the offense to start the year.

This fit Brown just fine, as Brown’s best coaching qualities are more leadership-oriented than offensive. That didn’t stop Brown from providing dissenting opinions about the direction of the offense with Reich this year, leading to multiple arguments in house. Brown did lead Young to his only two wins as a play caller this year, but ultimately, the Panthers offense did not flourish under his eventual reign as play caller. There’s a chance that Brown, alone, could be retained for his leadership abilities, if Carolina does in fact hire a young, offensive-minded head coach, but the rest of the offensive staff would likely be replaced by the new hire’s preferred assistants.

Lastly, Tabor seems invincible in Carolina. While he doesn’t seem likely to receive any serious consideration for the permanent head coaching job, Tepper continues to favor Tabor for his leadership as the interim head coach and his record as a special teams coordinator.

All of this stands as mere speculation, though, until Carolina is able to secure their newest head coach. And with Tepper employing six coaches (including interims) as skippers since buying the team in 2018, he’s developing a reputation that may make it difficult to lure in top talent. According to ESPN’s David Newton, sources around the league believe that Tepper’s impatience for head coaches, coupled with his recent drink toss that led to a $300K fine, will impact the team’s head coaching search, making it difficult to nail down the candidates of their choice.

Still, a head coaching opportunity is the pinnacle of the profession, and someone will be sure to nail down this newest opportunity in Carolina. They just may be pressed to include some of the above coaches in their new staff.

Latest On Panthers’ Offseason Plans

The Panthers already have a head coaching vacancy, and there’s an expectation that he’ll soon have an opening at general manager. Unsurprisingly, it sounds like Panthers owner David Tepper isn’t wasting any time preparing for his next big hires.

[RELATED: Panthers Likely To Fire GM Scott Fitterer]

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tepper has been working with consulting firm Sportsology, which is led by former Chelsea FC executive Mike Forde. As Joe Person of The Athletic notes, Forde recently helped Tepper with his Charlotte FC coaching search, and the executive has also worked with the Rams, 49ers, and Falcons. For what it’s worth, Tepper didn’t rely on a consulting firm when he hired Matt Rhule and Frank Reich.

While Scott Fitterer sounds like he’s at risk of losing his job, the general manager’s replacement could already be in the building. Per Schefter, Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan has “support within the organization” to take over the full-time gig. There’s also a chance Fitterer sticks around the organization…at least temporarily. Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes that the GM could “help with some of the transition” to a new head coach.

Of course, whoever takes over at GM will face a tough task of turning around the franchise. The Panthers have already traded their first-round pick (which ultimately came in at No. 1) to the Bears in order to draft Bryce Young, who struggled throughout his rookie campaign. With limited draft resources and a roster that’s lacking top-end talent, the next GM will surely require a multi-year rebuild to get the Panthers back on track.

As for the replacement for the ousted Reich, Russini writes that Tepper is expected to “try again” to hire Ben Johnson. The Lions offensive coordinator is expected to be a popular name on the coaching circuit, just as he was last offseason. In fact, Johnson was at one time considered the front runner for the Panthers job before he dropped out of the race to stay in Detroit.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/24

The last week of pregame transactions and gameday callups for several teams this season:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Placed on IR: T Mike McGlinchey
  • Activated from IR: T Alex Palczewski
  • Signed to active roster: CB Art Green
  • Elevated: S Devon Key

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Placed on IR: TE Hunter Henry
  • Signed to active roster: TE La’Michael Pettway
  • Elevated: TE Matt SokolOL Andrew Stueber

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Several teams whose season is set to come to an end tomorrow have elected to move injured players to injured reserve in order to create roster spots for practice squad options, particularly those who have had their three gameday elevations exhausted. In the case of the Broncos, McGlinchey will see his debut campaign in the Mile High City come to a premature end. Signed to a five-year, $87.5MM deal, the 28-year-old was part of a revamped O-line which did not produce the desired rebound on offense. Manning his usual right tackle spot, McGlinchey was charged with eight sacks and 49 pressures allowed by PFF, resulting in an overall grade of 67.5.

While the Giants will have an interesting decision to make with respect to Xavier McKinney‘s future, they will have Pinnock on the books for at least one more season. The latter’s rookie contract is set to expire following the 2024 campaign, one in which he will no doubt remain a vital member of New York’s secondary. Pinnock has recorded 85 tackles, two interceptions (including a 102-yard pick-six), six pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles while logging over 1,000 defensive snaps this season. A return to health and a continuation of his 2023 level of play will be sorely needed next fall.

Latest On Bill Belichick’s Patriots Future

As we get closer to Black Monday, the job status of Bill Belichick will continue to command headlines. While it’s still uncertain if the legendary coach will stick in New England, it sounds like rival teams are preparing for a divorce.

According to Josina Anderson, there are “teams within the NFC South” that have “potential” interest in Belichick. Considering the Panthers’ midseason coaching change, the organization has been loosely connected to Belichick. Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Daily confirms that Carolina “has always been an option.”

However, there haven’t been any previous rumblings of a pursuit by the Buccaneers, Saints, nor Falcons. Each of those teams’ head coaches could be at risk of losing their jobs, so it’s hard to definitively point to any one team based on Anderson’s report.

It sounds like it isn’t just rival teams that are anticipating a break up. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, some Patriots staff members are “bracing for change.” As a result, these individuals “have begun examining outside opportunities out of necessity,” a hint that Robert Kraft and co. could make sweeping changes to the organization.

Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald recently explored what led up to this point in New England. Following a dismal showing from the offense in 2022, there was hope in New England that replacing Matt Patricia with Bill O’Brien would solve some of the issues. However, Belichick was a proponent of sticking with Patricia, and while O’Brien tried to clean house on the offensive coaching staff, the head coach denied the request. This led to a divide on the offensive coaching staff, and the new OC had clear frustrations with the WR and OL coaches.

It sounds like those frustrations were shared by the assistant coaches, although they weren’t necessarily targeted at O’Brien. A source told Callahan and Kyed that newly-hired offensive line coach Adrian Klemm “confronted” director of player personnel Matt Groh “in a loud exchange” earlier this season. Klemm would later take a leave of absence, resulting in assistant coach Billy Yates and veteran OL James Ferentz leading the unit. Per the Boston Herald, Klemm isn’t expected to be back with the Patriots next season.

There were also issues among players. Cornerback Jack Jones “blew up” at position coach Mike Pellegrino after not starting the Germany game, leading to the player’s release, according to the Herald. Meanwhile, offensive lineman Trent Brown reportedly spoke openly about leaving for an NFC team this upcoming offseason.

Ultimately, sources believe Belichick’s “personnel control and inability to assemble a functional staff” led to his demise in New England. Still, these sources stressed that players continued to play hard for their head coach, and there’s a belief that he “hasn’t lost his fastball as a hands-on coach.” We’ll soon learn if Kraft feels the same way.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/2/24

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: S Jeremy Lucien

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: TE Johnny Lumpkin

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Signed: TE E.J. Jenkins
  • Placed on practice squad injured list: TE Cole Fotheringham

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: QB Dresser Winn
  • Released: LS Alex Matheson

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: LB Abraham Beauplan

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

Teams can begin signing players to reserve/futures contracts Jan. 8. P-squad contracts expire seven days after the regular season concludes, and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reminds teams are not limited regarding the number of times they can elevate a player from a taxi squad during the playoffs. In the regular season, players are capped at three gameday elevations.

The Panthers are expected to sign Boone to a futures deal next week, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. After three years with the Vikings and two with the Broncos, Boone played in nine games with the Texans this season. As for Wright, this marks a reunion. While Wright’s first Panthers stay did not last long (Aug. 26-30), Carolina may need him due to Eddy Pineiro‘s hamstring injury.

Amid the Jets’ wave of O-line injuries, they signed Saffold. While the former Rams, Titans and Bills starter was with the Jets for several weeks, he did not see any game action in his 14th NFL season.