2007 DRAFT NEEDS:

CAROLINA PANTHERS

presented by

by PFT Editor Mike Florio, with Matt Miller of NewEraScouting.com

The good news?  The Panthers are returning 21 of 22 starters from 2006.  The bad news?

The Panthers are returning 21 of 22 starters from 2006.

Carolina is a team that many thought would make it to the Super Bowl last season.  Us included. 

But something happened.  The Panthers were flat more often than not, and they played without inspiration.  Injuries played a role, but injuries should be no excuse for any team, since they happen to every team.

Assuming that the team can play more like its 2003 and 2005 editions and less like its 2004 and 2006 versions, there are no pressing needs in the draft.  In the event that this year's team will play like last year's team, however, it's important to beef up the roster with some players who can make the difference between another January at home, and a possible trip to Arizona.

With Mike Rucker moving toward the end of his career and Julius Peppers potentially unaffordable in 2008, it might make sense to grab a defensive end on day one.  Jarvis Moss and Adam Carriker are possibilities at No. 14. 

There's also a need at linebacker, if/when Dan Morgan gets one more concussion.  The safest bet is to assume that Morgan is on a game-to-game plan at best, and to troll for his replacement.  Paul Posluszny is an intriguing option in round one.

Corner is also an ever-important position in the pass-happy NFC South, which will involve more balls in the air than an all-male ballet with the arrival of Bobby Petrino in Atlanta.

On offense, tight end is a key area of need, and has been ever since Wesley Walls called it quits in Carolina.  A guy like Greg Olsen would give the Panthers a speedy option down the middle of the field, and would force a safety to quickly commit to focusing on Olsen or Steve Smith, if both players are lined up on the same side of the field.

Quarterback is also a potential area of need for the future, but there likely will be no future for coach John Fox or G.M. Marty Hurney if the team doesn't win a lot more games than it loses in 2007.  Our guess, then, is that the powers-that-be will devote most of the 2007 picks to guys who'll contribute in some way as rookies.  With the exception of maybe a throwaway pick on a pass-thrower late in day two of the draft, we'd be shocked if the Panthers do anything at this position.  Even though they should.

Receiver is also an area of potential need, with Keyshawn Johnson initially ambivalent about returning after the termination of offensive coordinator Dan Henning.  They also could use a youngster who can make things happen in the event that Steve Smith has any further hamstring problems, which might or might not have been related to a contract that looks even crappier after the mountains of cash that flowed in free agency to lesser players like Drew Bennett and Kevin Curtis.