Carolina Panthers’ behind-the-scenes NFL Draft video shows a surprising trade that nearly happened

Carolina Panthers Documentaries Offer Insight into Draft Decisions

The Carolina Panthers are gearing up for the upcoming season with a series of brief documentaries called “BluePrint.” These episodes provide a behind-the-scenes look at the offseason decisions made by the team, somewhat reminiscent of Hard Knocks. The first episode reveals some intriguing insights.

There was quite a bit of speculation about whether the Panthers would trade down from the eighth pick in the draft. Many believed they might actually move up to select a quarterback. However, it turns out that General Manager Dan Morgan was engaged in in-depth discussions with the Los Angeles Rams, who were eager to trade up and secure the rights to select Tetaro Amakumillan.

This information comes from piecing together details in the show. Both Morgan and Blunt Tillis, the vice president of football operations, acknowledged that the Rams had a strong interest in MacMillan.

While the specifics of the Rams’ offer aren’t clear, it seems they were quite motivated. Morgan mentioned that the best offer from Rams’ GM Les Snead involved “two points in their favor,” referencing draft pick value charts. Morgan indicated that this proposal didn’t make it worthwhile to part with the eighth overall pick.

Teams typically use varying charts, along with rough cheat sheets provided by the league, but the close nature of these point differentials indicates just how tight negotiations can be.

Rams Receive:

Round 1, overall number 8 (406 points)

Round 5, number 163 overall (10 points)

Panthers Receive:

Round 1, number 26 (223 points)

2026 Round 2 Pick (126 points)

Round 3, overall number 90 (45 points)

Round 4, overall number 127 (20 points)

The Rams ultimately gained a total of 416 points, while the Panthers received 414 points. Morgan conveyed that for the Rams to convince them to give up McMillan at number eight, the offer would need to be overwhelmingly better, but a counter was rejected in less than two minutes.

It seems Carolina’s proposal included the 26th overall pick, along with a first-rounder in 2026, which created a significant 110-point swing in their favor.

In the end, the Rams missed out on their desired receiver, while the Panthers achieved their goal. Nevertheless, Los Angeles managed to extract significant value from trading the pick to the Falcons.

It’s fascinating to witness how meticulously these negotiations unfold, even when they ultimately don’t result in a deal.