Don't assume the Panthers first pick...

[Mr. Scot]

...gets used on a defensive player.

That is, if you believe what Marty Hurney tells Joe Person.

And contrary to popular belief, the Panthers will not be limiting their focus to the defensive fields while evaluating possible prospects for their first-round pick.

The Panthers, who will pick 8th or 9th based on the outcome of a coin flip with Miami, have needs on both sides of the ball, according to general manager Marty Hurney.

"I don't think you lock yourself in to offense or defense as far as that first pick goes, and really any pick," Hurney said this week. "You have to go by your board. And we've done that and I think we've done well by doing that."

Inside the Panthers

[Rags]

*obligatory smokescreen post*

[Moose87Banks]

We have 3 months left. A lot of time for things to change. Dont assume anything, even assuming to not assume anything is an assumption.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

duh doy

[Brandon]

Hurney has been saying this for years, with the exception of last year since we could pretty clearly telegraph our first pick and not worry.

[CatMan72]

He'll take whomever he believes is the BPA.

[Lumps]

Yea but think about it. Only defensive players are really at our BPA other than Oline. WR and Oline are all I think we'd invest this much in.

BUT, if Hurney truley believes Otah is the player he wants than I see no reason to pick Oline depth with the first pick.

That leaves us with WR and Blackmon is the only offensive player/position worth a top 10 for us and he will not be there. Not only that but he had a DUI a year ago, highly doubt we trade up for him.

There are an abundant of defensive players (and olineman) right where we pick. If we picked a DT we could possibly get the best the draft has to offer where as we'd likley have the third OT leftovers.

If Hurney didn't pick the BPA I would say he is leaning towards offense. I guess you could believe an offensive player will be BPA but I honestly don't think it will be only BPA, we don't need a lot of offensive positions.

If the BPA are offensive players I would rather trade down because only 1 WR is worth it and if we are betting on Otah a top 10 pick on oline isn't needed.

Of course if Hurney is just fuging around though and has no faith in Otah, it would seem we'd certainly would need and choose an OT.

My opinion is I just don't see it, I think we are going defense all the way. We have an offense that can already win and compete.

[Zod]

I don't think there a player in the top 15 aside from QB's that couldn't step in and compete for a starting job on this team.

So yes, BPA is the only way to go.

[Khaki Lackey]

A week ago, I was thinking doubling down on offense wouldn't be a disaster. Our D should improve next year, with the recovery from injuries and experience for the rookies etc. Plus we'd be hanging 40+ points on just about everybody. Then I saw what happened to Green Bay and the Saints.

I know the pats have a lackluster D, but they looked like the '76 Steelers against the Broncos.

[Ja Rhule]

Our OL struggled last year. I want us to pick-up David DeCastro to protect Cam.

[DawgzLife]

I don't think anyone should ever paint themselves into a corner on how they will make the selection. BPA is the standard line. I do think it will end up being a D player vs. O player, but if it is a guy who will help the team immediately & significantly, I'm fine either way.

Let talk BPA for a minute: Does anyone else think that it's funny how much the GMs & the talking heads focus on BPA? Look at the draft sites & 'experts' then look at how the draft shakes out. Sometimes a guy 'rated' 1st round by the experts falls way down & you see why in their career. Many times certain teams rank a guy much higher than another team.

My whole point is that BPA is an educated guess to how a guy fits in. If you have a player sitting there for a position of need ranked on your board as #9 BPA & a position you don't need as #8, I would say it is ridiculous to go BPA. THe BPA thing is a way to mkae GMs feel like they did the best thing, but it's really a craps shoot.

[CarolinaNCSU]

While I would like to go defense in the first, I wouldn't be mad if we went OL or even Blackmon if he were to fall. Getting the defense healthy and hopefully filling a couple holes (lulz) in FA could drastically change our draft plan this year when last year we couldn't.

[Ivan The Awesome]

He'll take whomever he believes is the BPA.

Bingo.

[TylerVagyler]

The only offensive player that I'd want in the top 10 in Blackmon, and he'll be gone. Kendall Wright is another great WR in the draft and apparently a lot of teams have him in front of Blackmon on their boards. I'm assuming Riley Reiff and Jonathan Martin are two OT that we'd be interested in taking. Dre Kirkpatrick and Courtney Upshaw, both from Alabama, are two defensive players I'd be happy with taking.

If Claiborne isn't on the board, it's really a toss up.