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Link

NEW YORK --

Update: The Panthers acquired the 19th pick in the draft in a trade with the Philadephia Eagles and took offensive tackle Jeff Otah of Pittsburgh. The move will allow Travelle Wharton to move from tackle to guard. The Panthers gave the Eagles their second and fourth round picks this year, and next year's first-round pick.



The Carolina Panthers offense just changed dramatically.

With the 13th pick in the NFL draft, the Panthers selected Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, who's expected to energize an offense that ranked 29th in the NFL in total offense last season.

I'm not interested in obsessing with the draft while actual games are being played,but we've drafted a running back with our first rounder.Obviously we had to replace FOster and I've heard nice things about Stewart.Can't say I watched Oregon enough to have a grasp on his game,but this looks like a sound pick.

God knows Wharton wasn't a very good tackle.However this guy better be really good considering what they gave up for him.Next year's first along with a 2nd and a 4th...that's pretty outrageous.In fact it sounds absolutely desperate.

[nutmeged3]

Sounds like a move that a coach and GM on the verge of getting fired would do

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http://www.charlotte.com/panthers/story/598759.html
I had this on the DVR just to see what would be said about our picks without having to watch all of it.They haven't said a word that I could tell.Both picks were made during commercials and they ignored them completely.

I'm surprised that we haven't gone after a d lineman(or two) under the circumstances.Rucker retired,Jenkins traded,Peppers' play and his contract situation are both huge question marks.Well we have a lot of needs.

The Carolina Panthers have addressed their need at free safety by taking Charles Godfrey of Iowa in the third round of the draft.
Seven picks later on Sunday, the Panthers took linebacker Dan Connor of Penn State to kick off a busy second day.
Godfrey played cornerback in his final two seasons with the Hawkeyes, but will likely be a candidate to replace the departed Deke Cooper at free safety next season. Godfrey is also expected to contribute on special teams.
The Panthers have depth at linebacker, but the Panthers had Connor highly rated.

[nutmeged3]

I think LB is our deepest position I wish we would have gone after a D-Lineman but I guess that means we got confidence in Johnson and McClover. Still we don't have any depth at DT

[nutmeged3]

So our draft ends up being

13 (1) RB Jonathan Steward
19 (1) OT Jeff Otah
67 (3) S Charles Godfrey
74 (3) LB Dan Connor
141 (5) TE Gary Barnidge
181 (6) DT Nick Hayden
221 (7) KB Hilee Taylor
241 (7) OL Geoff Swartchz
250 (7) OG Mackenzy Bernadeau

I don't know much about many of these players but we filled everyone of our needs except for DE. I'm guessing our front office trusts in Brayton, Johnson, and McClover so that's fine. I really like this draft though, we gave up too much for that 19th pick but we should finally have a running game again. I'm liking our chances for next year

[zagsfan20]

Stewart is a beast. He could possibly be the best RB out of the class (yes, even better than McFadden). He's a great combination of speed and size. You won't ever hear about him in off field trouble, he's a great guy. If he came back for his senior season he'd easily be a top Heisman candidate and would have crushed records at Oregon and maybe even the Pac-10. His one downfall is that you can't pass him the ball, he doesn't have good hands when passed to.

[MrJayremmie]

You guys will LOVE Stewart. He was the 2nd best RB in college, imo.

He has the best RB body for anyone coming out of college. He has amazing speed, and strength, and simply won't go down. He has a GREAT attitude... he will never be a problem.

He proved, toward the end of the year when our QB went down and our recievers and backup RBs injured that he can single handedly carry the load, breaking even 200 yards once. The kid is insane. He was the top rated offensive player coming out of high school, and didn't let anyone down.

He was also one of the best in the country at kickoff returns, just because he is so damn talented and has great speed, strenth and EXCELLENT vision and patience to wait for the holes and then hit it wiht a second gear. He is a physical freak!

Good luck guys. I really think you will be happy with the pick. Wouldn't be surprised if he had the best NFL career out of anyone in this draft (even McFadden).