Written by Greg Atkins
The 2019 NFL Draft got off to a solid start for the Carolina Panthers after selected Florida State edge rusher, Brian Burns. Drafting an edge rusher was one of two priorities for the team heading into the weekend.
The second priority, drafting a potential franchise left tackle, happened
within the first few picks on Friday evening during the second-round.
Amidst a run on offensive lineman chosen, the Panthers reached an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks for their 37th pick in exchange for Carolina’s 47th and 77th overall selections.
Greg Little, a 6-foot-5 310-pound offensive lineman from Ole Miss, was the choice.
Little, much like first-round selection Brian Burns, presents immense versatility. He has the ability to play both tackle positions as well as moving inside to play some guard if needed.
However, there’s only one reason the Panthers ultimately made this trade and selection: to secure a franchise left tackle; something that has long eluded this organization since Jordan Gross’ departure prior to the 2014 season.
General Manager Marty Hurney, when asked about the trade, said, “We just thought we had a chance to get a left tackle that could come in here and compete quickly.”
During the aforementioned Greg Little trade, the Panthers surrendered the highest of their two third-round picks.
With the 100th selection, the Panthers chose Will Grier, a 6-foot-2 217-pound quarterback from West Virginia. Grier, a Charlotte native, figures to be at the forefront of the competition to be Cam Newton’s backup for the 2019 season. Grier is the first quarterback drafted by the franchise since Newton in 2011.
Hurney elaborated, “When you get a chance to take a guy you like to help the depth at the most important position on the team, arguably, you have to do it. We like Will. I think he’s got plenty of arm strength. He’s got an ‘it’ factor.”
When specifically asked about Newton, Hurney stated, “Cam knows this is about depth at the position. Cam is our franchise quarterback.”
The Panthers kicked off the final day of the 2019 NFL draft by selecting Christian Miller, an outside linebacker from Alabama. Much like Burns, Miller brings valuable versatility in the sense that he can play defensive end in addition to outside linebacker.
Miller, a Columbia, S.C. native, has had a track record of being hampered by injuries, which undoubtedly adversely affected his draft stock. He presents great value at pick 115 for the Panthers if he is able to stay healthy.
Carolina’s fifth selection, Florida running back Jordan Scarlett, ideally provides the team with a ‘change of pace’ back for Christian McCaffrey. Scarlett is a physical back who thrives between the tackles and in both pass blocking and run blocking. Scarlett will compete with Cameron Artis-Payne and Elijah Hood for playing time in the backfield.
In the sixth-round, the Panthers drafted Dennis Daley after trading back with Denver to secure a seventh-round pick. Daley, an offensive lineman from South Carolina, will provide depth for each position on the offensive line.
Carolina used the aforementioned seventh-round pick on wide receiver Terry Godwin from Georgia.
The Panthers accomplished what they initially set out to do in the pre-draft process. This draft was all about cultivating flexibility, versatility, and depth. Burns, Little, Miller, present players who can make an immediate impact while Grier, Scarlett, Daley, and Godwin present the team with better depth.
Up next for the Panthers is Organized Team Activities (OTAs), which begin May 21st.
