Where Do the Panthers Stand In the ‘09 Draft?

When it comes to the upcoming NFL Draft, we’re not just looking at this year to determine how everything will play out. Several decisions over the past year have already affected the turnout of this year’s draft, and now we can take a look at the Carolina Panthers and try to predict how the 2009 NFL Draft will fare for the Panthers compared to how things went last year.

On draft day in 2008, the Panthers made a crucial move in swooping in on Jeff Otah, costing the team its first-round pick in this year’s draft. This may end up hurting Carolina this year, but Otah’s value to the Panthers has already been crucial to the team’s success. Last year, the Panthers also acquired RB Jonathan Stewart in the first round of the draft, next picking up DB Charles Godfrey and LB Dan Connor in round three, TE Gary Barnidge in the fifth round, DT Nick Hayden in round six and Hilee Taylor, OT Geoff Schwartz and OL Mackenzy Bernadeau all in round seven of the draft. This was a solid crew of picks for the Panthers last year, and the team could be good to go in the 2009 Draft with a Julius Peppers trade, as Carolina could pick up a high draft pick for the defensive end.

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