The Carolina Panthers' encouraging progress under this current regime was always going to come with alluring glances from elsewhere. And a bitter division rival is threatening to make a daring raid for general manager Dan Morgan's most trusted ally in the front office.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Atlanta Falcons have requested permission to speak with Carolina's executive vice president of football operations, Brandt Tilis, about the vacant role of football president. Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to block the approach because it was a promotion up the ladder.