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There are virtually no sure things in the NFL draft. And although they've been around a relatively short while compared to the bulk of the league, the Carolina Panthers have learned that lesson a time or two.
ESPN's NFL Nation recently named each franchise's most impactful draft-day. Reporter Katherine Terrell revisits Carolina's, and details their unfortunate trade up to the 19th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft to nab offensive tackle Jeff Otah.
Terrell writes:
To get Otah, the Panthers traded first-, second- and fourth-round picks—a veritable bonanza of draft capital that usually nets you a top-five overall selection. Otah eventually went down as one of the 10-worst picks in NFL history.
It's a timely note for the Panthers, who just used the same pick (No. 19 overall) on another offensive tackle in Georgia star Monroe Freeling. While it would come as a surprise, we can't rule out the possibility that Freeling could follow in Otah's footsteps and become a massive first-round draft bust. The transition from the college game to the NFL is a vast ocean of difference, and many athletes simply can't manage it, no matter how good they may have been in college.
That being said, Freeling has a lot more going for him—most of all a far-superior athletic profile. His Relative Athletic Score is more than double Otah's (4.45 to 9.99), and he's already proven himself in a much more competitive conference.
Freeling should work out fine in the long run, even if the Panthers may have some bad juju with that position at that draft slot.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL draft: ESPN names Panthers' most impactful draft-day trade
Continue reading...
ESPN's NFL Nation recently named each franchise's most impactful draft-day. Reporter Katherine Terrell revisits Carolina's, and details their unfortunate trade up to the 19th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft to nab offensive tackle Jeff Otah.
Terrell writes:
To get Otah, the Panthers traded first-, second- and fourth-round picks—a veritable bonanza of draft capital that usually nets you a top-five overall selection. Otah eventually went down as one of the 10-worst picks in NFL history.
It's a timely note for the Panthers, who just used the same pick (No. 19 overall) on another offensive tackle in Georgia star Monroe Freeling. While it would come as a surprise, we can't rule out the possibility that Freeling could follow in Otah's footsteps and become a massive first-round draft bust. The transition from the college game to the NFL is a vast ocean of difference, and many athletes simply can't manage it, no matter how good they may have been in college.
That being said, Freeling has a lot more going for him—most of all a far-superior athletic profile. His Relative Athletic Score is more than double Otah's (4.45 to 9.99), and he's already proven himself in a much more competitive conference.
Freeling should work out fine in the long run, even if the Panthers may have some bad juju with that position at that draft slot.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL draft: ESPN names Panthers' most impactful draft-day trade
Continue reading...
