Effect of Rucker’s Retirement on Panther’s Draft

Mike Rucker has now officially retired.  In a move that wasn’t entirely shocking, but wasn’t entirely out of the blue either, the Carolina Panthers lost yet another of their once-formidable front four.  With the other personnel moves in the offseason - the trade of Kris Jenkins and the release of Dan Morgan - the Panthers will now finally have a completely new defensive line for the first time in years.  This newest wrinkle in the Panthers offseason now means that Carolina needs to look at picking up a D-lineman in the first round of the draft, according to the article in question.

I would have to totally agree with this writer’s assertion.  The Panthers look very solid as a team because of the many shrewd pick-ups they made in the offseason.  While they certainly still need other players, such as a complimentary running back for DeAngelo Hall, the D-Line is the place they must start.  Bill Parcells knows a thing or two about football, and he has a hard and fast rule to never draft running backs in the first round.  So before you go calling for QB Ryan or RB Mendenhall, keep in mind that NFL games are won and lost in the trenches, and the Panthers need help on the defensive front.

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