The Panthers have traded 27-year old strong safety Chris Harris to the Bears for 25-year old linebacker Jamar Williams.  Harris played in 13 games for the Panthers last season and he had 70 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, he forced 2 fumbles, defensed 3 passes and he had 1 interception.  Harris played in 44 games in his three years with the Panthers in which he had 226 tackles, he defensed 14 passes, he forced 12 fumbles and he had 5 interceptions.  Jamar Williams played in all 16 games for the Bears last season and he had 43 tackles, forced 1 fumble and he defensed 3 passes.  He has played in 51 games in his four years in the NFL and he has 89 tackles, 1 sack, he has forced 1 fumble and he has 1 sack.  Williams might be able to start for the Panthers but this looks like any money driven move.

The Panthers have selected QB/WR Armanti Edwards out of Appalachian State with the 89th overall pick (3rd round) of the NFL Draft.  The Panthers plan to use Edwards mostly at WR as he runs a 4.4 40.  He is on the short side at 5’11″, 181 pounds so he will likely be used at the slot in the pros.  Edwards also could be the QB in a Panthers’ version of the Wildcat and he will likely also be the #3 QB in 2010.  Edwards played in 12 games (all starts) at Appalachian State last season and he completed 257 of 378 passes (68%) for 3,291 yards with 12 TD passes and 7 INTs.  In his four years at App. St. he played in 51 games (49 starts) in which he completed 768 of 1,180 passes (65.1%) for 10,392 yards with 74 TD passes and 33 interceptions.  He was the QB that led Appalachian State to their victory in Ann Arbor over the Wolverines three years ago proving that he can step up when challenged.  I like this pick for the Panthers.

The Panthers have selected WR Brandon LaFell with the 78th overall pick (3rd round) of the NFL Draft.  The Panthers got good value once again with the pick of LaFell who will probably have a good chance of starting for them in 2010.  LaFell is a big guy at 6’2″, 207 pounds and he is a tough, possession type receiver who is also a good run blocker so he should fit right in.  He played in 13 games (all starts) for LSU last season in which he caught 57 passes for 792 yards (13.9 avg) with 14 TD grabs.  LaFell played in 51 games (34 starts) in his four years at LSU and he caught 175 passes for 2,517 yards (14.4 avg) with 28 TD grabs.  LaFell didn’t play with the best QBs around in his time at LSU so look for his production to be much better with the Panthers.  He is a perfect complement to Steve Smith for the Panthers.

The Panthers have selected QB Jimmy Clausen out of Notre Dame with the 48th overall pick (2nd round) of the NFL Draft.  The Panthers had bigger needs heading into this draft but they couldn’t resist nabbing a QB who was projected to be a top 10 pick in this draft.  The Panthers will likely have Clausen back up Matt Moore this season but he will likely supplant him as the starting QB down the road.  Clausen certainly looks the part as he is a big guy at 6’2″, 220 pounds.  He has enough arm to make all of the throws but despite being on T.V. every week I never saw him getting a signature win against a quality opponent.  That being said he was very impressive as a junior with Notre Dame.  Clausen played in 12 games (all starts) for the Irish last season and he completed 289 of 425 passes (68%) for 3,722 yards with 28 TD passes and 4 INTs.  In his three year career at Notre Dame, Clausen played in 35 games (34 starts) in which he completed 695 of 1,110 passes (62.6%) for 8,148 yards with 60 TD passes and 27 INTs.  This was a great pick for the Panthers who were right not to resist the temptation to draft a potential franchise QB in the second round of the NFL Draft.

The Panthers might not have a first round pick in the NFL Draft this weekend but that doesn’t mean that they won’t find some starting players because they likely will.  The Panthers have 2 of the top 78 picks in the draft and 8 overall picks.  The Panthers have needs at DE, WR, DT, QB, T and G and they will have a hard time filling them all this weekend.  The Panthers will probably be targeting players like DT Cam Thomas, DE Jerry Hughes, WR Arrelious Benn, WR Mardy Gilyard and WR Brandon LaFell.

PROJECTED FIRST PICK FOR THE PANTHERS:  WR, Brandon LaFell, LSU

The Panthers have lost a lot of key veterans this off season and they have not don’t anything to replace them.  Are the Panthers trying to sabotage this season just to make a buck because of the lack of a salary cap?  It sure seems that way based on how the Panthers are operating this off-season.  The Panthers have not signed one free agent who is capable of starting so far this off-season.  WR Wallace Wright and CB/KR Brian Witherspoon have the best chances of producing for the Panthers this season out of the players the Panthers have signed and their specialty is special teams.  DT Ed Johnson, LB Marcus Hudson and FS Aaron Francisco are all backup type players.  With no first round pick this season 2010 is looking like it might be a long year for the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers have signed 24-year old CB/PR/KR Brian Witherspoon after he was cut by the Lions.  Witherspoon played in 8 games with the Jaguars and Lions last season in which he made 3 tackles.  He also returned 26 kickoffs for 640 yards (24.6 avg) and 9 punts for 88 yards (9.8 avg) last season.  Witherspoon has now played in 22 games in his NFL career and he has 16 tackles.  He has also returned 80 kickoffs for 1,890 yards (23.6 avg) and 26 punts for 280 yards (10.8 avg) in his career.  The Panthers signed him for his special teams ability because he won’t offer much help on defense.

The Panthers have signed 26-year old free safety Aaron Francisco.  Francisco played in 10 games for the Colts last season in which he had 16 tackles.  He has now played in 63 games in his five years in the NFL in which he has made 159 tackles, defensed 4 passes, he had forced 1 fumble and he has 2 interceptions.  Francisco will give the Panthers depth at safety while helping out on special teams in 2010.