Panthers search for new GM: 18 logical candidates to replace Scott Fitterer in Carolina

The Panthers are on the search for a new leader for their front office following Monday’s firing of general manager Scott Fitterer.

Owner David Tepper has now fired two GMs during his short tenure in Carolina. Tepper will attempt to make his third general manager a long-term fixture of the organization.

Fitterer’s successor will need to put together a strong 2024 roster without the benefit of a first-round pick to improve the Panthers’ bottom-dwelling group, which finished the 2023 season with a 2-15 record. The new top executive will also need to negotiate contract extensions for players including Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Derrick Brown.

With rookie quarterback Bryce Young set to anchor the franchise — at least for the foreseeable future — the new GM will also need to be on board with the previous regime’s hand-picked signal-caller.

Here are 18 logical options for the opening in Carolina:

In-house crew

Dan Morgan: Panthers assistant general manager

The Panthers don’t have a great history of retention during the Tepper era, for better or worse. With Morgan, Tepper would have a top executive who was in on the process of drafting Young and constructing the roster. Obviously, the results haven’t been particularly appealing, so there’s a chance that the owner just decides to move on from the entire bunch. Morgan, 45, is a former player who just banged the “Keep Pounding” drum in Week 11, and he has years of scouting experience. While his connection to Fitterer might be a turnoff, his overall understanding of the Panthers’ operations could help Carolina hit the ground running.

Adrian Wilson: Panthers VP of player personnel

Wilson, an NC State alum and High Point native, previously interviewed for GM jobs last offseason before returning home to the Carolinas. Wilson, like Morgan, is a former NFL player with years of experience in scouting. Wilson, 44, is a local guy, too, which could help his case. He also doesn’t have any connection to the Matt Rhule era, which might make him even more appealing.

Samir Suleiman: Panthers VP of football administration

Some NFL teams have started to drift away from the personnel perspective at GM in recent years. GMs like Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings have put together successful teams without extensive personnel experience. Suleiman has been proactive about growing his scouting profile; he was part of the extensive head coach and quarterback searches this past season. Considered a shrewd contract negotiator, he fits in with Tepper’s focus on the numbers game.

The assistant GM bunch

Mike Borgonzi: Chiefs assistant general manager

Teams typically favor hiring execs from successful programs. It’s hard to think of a team with a better sense of stability and winning than the Chiefs over the past half-decade. Borgonzi has served as Brett Veach’s No. 2 for three years, but he’s been with the organization for 15 seasons. He could be the appealing choice for Tepper simply based on the way the Chiefs have operated since he’s been there.

Ray Agnew: Lions assistant general manager

Agnew, a Winston-Salem native and NC State alum, has been with Detroit during its three-year climb to relevance. The longtime scout spent 18 seasons with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, rising up the ranks to leave as the director of pro scouting. If the Panthers are looking to lure Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to Carolina, Agnew, a former NFL defensive lineman, could be a logical partner for the up-and-coming play caller in the front office.

Adam Peters: 49ers assistant general manager

Peters was one of the many candidates who interviewed for the GM job in Carolina in 2021. However, he was passed over for Fitterer and the rest is history — or infamy. Peters has worked in NFL personnel departments for 21 seasons. He started with the Patriots in their scouting department in 2003 and eventually joined the Denver Broncos on the way to their Super Bowl 50 win over the Panthers. Peters has been with San Francisco for seven seasons and worked as assistant GM for the past three years. It’s hard to deny the 49ers’ success with Peters in house.

Ian Cunningham: Bears assistant general manager

Cunningham, like Peters, has been a GM candidate for the past few years. While he has bounced from Philadelphia to Chicago, Cunningham has climbed the executive ladder efficiently. His background in personnel is appealing, and while Chicago hasn’t really shined of late, Cunningham is known for having a solid eye for talent.

Catherine Raîche: Browns assistant general manager

Raîche has had a meteoric rise in the NFL since coming over from the Canadian Football League in 2019. After serving as a top personnel exec for the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, Raîche was hired to serve as the Eagles’ football operations coordinator. After two years in that role, she was promoted to VP of football operations. She was then hired by Cleveland to serve as assistant GM in 2022. Raîche has quite a bit of buzz with the Browns heading to the playoffs amid chaos at the QB position.

Brandon Brown: Giants assistant general manager

Brown has been working in NFL personnel departments since 2015. The former Fordham defensive back went from scouting for the Colts to helping direct a scouting department for the Eagles to serving as Giants GM Joe Schoen’s right-hand man in less than a decade. While Brown is still on the younger side of the candidate pool, he’s worked under three different GMs and climbed the executive ladder very quickly.

UPDATE: The Panthers requested to speak with Brown about their GM vacancy Monday, a league source confirmed to The Observer. The team also requested to speak with Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg.

Andy Weidl: Steelers assistant general manager

Weidl has worked with three of the most successful organizations of the past 20 years in the Steelers, Eagles and Ravens during his time in the league. His Pittsburgh ties might appeal to Tepper, who was previously a minority owner with the Steelers. Weidl has guided personnel departments and been a right-hand man to some extremely successful GMs. A former New Orleans Saints scout, Weidl has worked his way up the NFL front office ladder and could be a hot candidate this offseason.

The wild cards

Champ Kelly: Raiders interim general manager

Kelly was promoted to the interim job following the mid-season firing of Dave Ziegler, who lasted less than two years as Las Vegas GM. The Raiders have been on a tear ever since with the roster that Kelly helped construct as assistant GM under Ziegler. While it would be logical for Raiders owner Mark Davis to retain Kelly and interim head coach Antonio Pierce, there are no guarantees that both will be back. Kelly has worked his way up the executive ladder since entering the league in 2007. He has worked in several different personnel positions with the Raiders, Bears and Broncos.

Brandt Tilis: Chiefs VP of football operations

Tilis has been with the Chiefs for 14 seasons, rising up from a salary/contract analyst to the VP of football operations. The Chiefs have been the most successful squad of the past five years, and Tilis has been a key figure behind the scenes. Like Peters, Tilis interviewed for the Panthers’ GM job in 2021. Perhaps, with a bit more seasoning, Tilis could be ready to make the jump. Tilis is similar to a few other candidates on this list, as he has more of a salary cap background than a personnel history. If partnered with a strong football-minded GM, Tilis could be a strong candidate for Carolina.

UPDATE: A league source confirmed Monday that the Panthers requested to speak with Tilis. According to NFL Network, the team also requested to speak with Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby.

Jeff Scott: Eagles director of football operations

Scott, a Davidson alum, has a background in the Charlotte area. He has worked in the NFL since 2012 and spent his first nine seasons in the league with Washington. He then joined the Eagles in 2021 and was quickly promoted from senior pro scout to director of football operations in 2022. Scott has experience with both salary cap management and personnel scouting. He could offer the right mix of experience in both avenues to be a popular first-time option.

Nick Matteo: Ravens VP of football administration

The Ravens had one of the better runs in the NFL this season. Matteo has been around the organization for a while, and he could be a strong first-year candidate because of his connections to Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta. Matteo, like Suleiman and Tilis, is in charge of negotiating contracts and managing the salary cap.

Joe Hortiz: Ravens director of player personnel

Hortiz has helped put together one of the most complete teams in the NFL this season. A longtime Ravens personnel man, Horitz has learned under the likes of Newsome and DeCosta, just like Matteo. If the Panthers were to go this route, it would be an all-in move to improve the personnel department and roster. The Ravens — with Horitz heavily involved — have quite the track record in the NFL Draft, which could appeal to Tepper from a long-term spending standpoint.

Thomas Dimitroff: Former Falcons general manager

Now working for SumerSports as a chief executive officer, Dimitroff could be an option as a retread GM candidate. It’s hard to deny his success as both a college scouting director in New England and a longtime GM in Atlanta. Dimitroff understands the bigger picture of a football organization, making him a potential option as a team vice president (focused on football) as well. Dimitroff has the resume and NFL clout to be a sturdy presence for one of the more unsettled ownership outlooks in the league.

Dave Caldwell: Eagles senior personnel director

If the Panthers want a candidate with experience in the GM seat, Caldwell might make some sense. He handled similar situations during his time in Jacksonville as the Jaguars’ GM from 2013 to 2020. Caldwell has dealt with heavy ownership involvement and limited roster resources in the top spot before. He also has a background with Carolina as a former scout under Bill Polian.

Camren Williams: Patriots director of college scouting

If the Panthers are looking for an outside personnel voice, Williams could fit the mold. Williams has worked his way up the front office ladder within the Patriots’ organization, and he was around for some of the team’s Super Bowl success. Another young exec on this list, Williams could have a long-term outlook to grow within the job.