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April 26, 2008
Panthers take calculated gamble ...
The Panthers took a calculated gamble in trading back into the first round to grab Pitt offensive tackle Jeff Otah.
Carolina had to give Philadelphia its second and fourth picks from this draft and its No. 1 in 2009, but the Panthers’ braintrust felt like it was worth doing.
But the team wound up with two of the draft’s top 20 picks, grabbing running back Jonathan Stewart at No. 13 and Otah six picks later.
"At 13 we had a handful of guys (on our board) and after 10 we had a good feeling that one of them was going to be there," general manager Marty Hurney said a few minutes ago. "We took Jonathan Stewart, who we just think is an excellent back and coupled with DeAngelo gives us two very good running backs.
"As we went down, our plan was, if there were certain players left, to try to trade back up into the first round and get one of them. We thought Otah was a big, physical, offensive tackle. And just felt like you don’t have a lot of opportunities to get players like him.
"We made several calls as we went down and when we got to Philadelphia, we were able to make the deal."
Coach John Fox said Otah would likely start out at right tackle. That would shift Jordan Gross to the left side and enable Travelle Wharton to move from left tackle to left guard.
The moves – along the free agent-signing of a number of big guards, guarantee that Carolina’s line will be much bigger and more physical than last year’s unit. – STAN OLSON
Posted by Observer Sports on April 26, 2008 at 06:00 PM | Permalink
Comments
This smells of 2 desperate men trying using what should be someone elses pick to save their jobs...these guys should be fired for the 13th pick and then touching the money with Otah...I have to wonder what Jerry's take is on it all...smelly...
Posted by: unhappy camper | Apr 26, 2008 6:05:42 PM
I feel a lot better about this pick now, especially after I've seen how other teams looked at him and thinking about how low-risk, high reward OL can be. Losing next year's #1 hurts but I can live with this.
What are we doing about QB? Are we considering Matt Moore our Tony Romo or what?
Posted by: Mike | Apr 26, 2008 6:06:08 PM
I think 2009 first round pick was enough to get that pick -_- they gave up TOO MUCH!!!
Posted by: Sean | Apr 26, 2008 6:09:12 PM
Awsome, Great year here we come. Jordan Gross isn't great at LT but will do until we get someone else. But we made a great move no doubt. We will have a great offense but unless we get a very good DL we wont have to good of a defense.
Posted by: Cameron | Apr 26, 2008 6:13:57 PM
bunch of unintelligent panther fans as of lately... all the panthers really gave up were two picks.. they basically just swapped 1st rounders... got an extra one this year for theirs next year.... simple as that... really only gave up a 2nd and
4th rounder dummies
Posted by: Panthe R ican | Apr 26, 2008 6:16:33 PM
I have to agree with Panthe R ican. At first I was a little uneasy about this. But then when I thought about it, we basically are grabbing a top 12 rated player by Kiper Jr., and are just doing it a year early. Tough to say as of now, but who is to say that this high of a quality player was even going to be available to Carolina next year with their first pick.
Posted by: josh | Apr 26, 2008 6:22:57 PM
Chill out everyone. Gosh, just cause we gave u p some draft picks doesn't mean its over. Bunch of dumb fans, the real panthers fans realize what these picks mean. Power Running Game!
Posted by: Panthers | Apr 26, 2008 6:26:05 PM
Agreed. This trade will really pan out in 2-3 years wherever Otah ends up on this team. From all I've heard about him, he should be a fantastic lineman, and I cannot WAIT to see what Stewart can do for this team! The Stewart-Williams combo could be lethal.
Posted by: JPanther | Apr 26, 2008 6:26:54 PM
Wait, who did the panthers pick, i was just daydreaming about Matt Ryans hot bod and I missed it! Damn.
Posted by: stan olson | Apr 26, 2008 6:27:19 PM
I'm not really worried about giving next year's first for Otah. It's a wash as far as I am concerned. I'm more concerned about giving up the 2nd round pick. There was some decent talent out there that would have been available. Hopefully there will be some decent help at 67 and 74. Past that giving up the 4th was no biggie as this draft isn't terribly talent rich after the first 75 or 80 players. I think next year regardless of having a first the Panthers are going to be in bad straights with both Peppers and Gross most likely moving on (along with Hurney and Fox). QB is also a really big question mark as far as I am concerned. How long with Smith hang around on a bunch of 8-8 teams?
Posted by: johnlatte | Apr 26, 2008 6:27:43 PM
We still have 7 picks in rounds 3-7. We can move back up to the late 2nd or stay where we are and get to quality players in the third. As far as the 09 1st rounder I'm not worried. Alto can happen in a year to get another 1st.
Posted by: J Thomas | Apr 26, 2008 6:34:11 PM
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Posted by: Jimmy | Apr 26, 2008 6:37:24 PM
I hear ya J, but none of the picks are extermely high in any of the rounds. If I was a GM on another team, I wouldn't be really willing to part with a 2nd rounder for late 5th, 6th and or 7th round picks. The 2 3rds (67 and 70 picks) are our best chances of getting quality talent.
Posted by: johnlatte | Apr 26, 2008 6:42:02 PM
How about let's think positively and say that our 1st round pick won't matter because it's gonna be pick #32! HA
GO PANTHERS!
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 26, 2008 6:47:58 PM
In a draft deep with RBs and faced with critical 'starter' needs that included OT, DE, and DT, Carolina picked a 'back-up' RB with it's 1st pick. From what I read, Carolina was thinking Harvey and a trade back up to get Cherilus. They watched Clady fall all the way to 12 without making a move, hoping he would fall past Denver. With Harvey and Clady gone, the Cats took Stewart, planning on moving back up to get Cherilus. When he was taken, the Cats panicked and made the expensive deal to get Otah. It was a tactical error in the Darft's 'chess game. As for next year's 1st, what does Fox care - he might not be around. So what does he care about mortgaging next year's draft for ensuring he saves his job this year. We got 2 good players, and it still might work out - Fox may still end up looking like a genius, but IMO it was still an expensive 'tactical' chess error'.
Posted by: easy | Apr 26, 2008 6:56:59 PM
Sure our remaining picks in rounds 3-7 are late, there still are players to be found. Look around the league and there are starters, good players, that were drafted ina dn after the 3rd. If Hurney can pick the right ones (something he has not been able to do in the past) we can have an even better draft and better our defense. Lets see what happens.
Posted by: J Thomas | Apr 26, 2008 7:07:21 PM
It has taken me an hour or so, but I think Im OK with the trade. It sucks to lose the 1st pick for next year, but as it has already been said, we just got that pick this year. And as far as losing the 2nd round pick, when was the last time we picked a decent second round pick? Or a fourth round pick for that matter? So we traded two players who probably wont be around in 3 years for two possible all-pros this year, instead of one this year, and one next year. That was a long way of saying, Im happy with what we did.
Posted by: Artrip | Apr 26, 2008 7:11:39 PM
I love the picks and the trade! At first I thought...What are they doing???...but if our guys make a deep run in the playoffs...we are only giving up a 20 something pick! Comeon guys...think about it...even if it doesnt work out...in will come the BIG CHIN!!! Now that would be worth it!!! Either F&H is really really smart or they are really really stupid!!! Only time will tell! Either way..Ill still be a Panther Fan!
Go Panthers!
Posted by: duston | Apr 26, 2008 7:26:41 PM
I think we go defense defense defense, from here on out. I'm happy with the draft so far. Who knows, Otah could be playing left tackle by the end of preseason. He's got a lot of natural talent, and is only going to get better. Charles, I hope you're right about being able to pick up a solid DT in the 3rd.
Posted by: TheMike | Apr 26, 2008 7:27:09 PM
I don't think that they made a tactical error at all. Clady was going to be gone before 13th. That's been on everybodies board since late Feb. The surprise was Harvey going at 8th. It was pretty apparent Stewart was the Panther's guy, as the Panthter's Doc did his surgery back in March and Harvey isn't worth 8th pick money, so the Jags can have him. Otah ranked over Cherilus on just about every board I read. It's a good move, we haven't lost out on anything except a decent pick in the 2nd. If they go defense from here on out, it should be fine.
Posted by: johnlatte | Apr 26, 2008 7:43:39 PM
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