Panthers Add To Defensive Line With First Round Draft Pick

CHARLOTTE, N.C —  The Carolina Panthers remained true to General Manager Dave Gettleman’s philosophy Thursday night, by drafting defensive tackle Vernon Butler with the 30th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Butler, like many of the other first round picks in the 2016 draft, is not a household name.  The 6’4″and 323 pound defensive lineman played in Conference USA at Louisiana Tech.  Butler had 48 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks in 2015.  His statistics were not eye-popping but he was First Team All Conference USA and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Vernon Butler will join a solid rotation of defensive tackles that includes All-Pro Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Paul Soliai, and Kyle love.

What Gettleman is doing is akin to a person strengthening his core.  Core work is often grueling and unappreciated, but a strong core allows the rest of the body to reach it’s full potential.  Team victories are the abdominal muscles that represent a commitment to overall fitness.

Gettleman has an affinity for what he calls “Hogmollies”, or the offensive and defensive linemen who do the dirty work in the trenches.  They are the core of the Panthers’ team.  The offensive line protects Cam Newton, giving him time to find open receivers, and opens running  lanes for Jonathan Stewart and company to pick up yardage on the ground.   The defensive lineman ease the burden of the defensive backs by putting pressure on the opposing quarterback, prevent opposing teams from establishing a consistent running game, and allow the linebackers to run freely and make tackles.

Without strong linemen the rest of the team is weak no matter how individually talented a player may be at his respective position. So, in a draft which many people consider lackluster from a high-end talent perspective,  reinforcing a position of strength is not a bad idea.

The Panthers’ roster, from a talent standpoint, was good enough to reach the Superbowl last season. They did lose All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman after rescinding his Franchise designation. The team can still address the offensive tackle and cornerback positions with their five remaining draft picks.   The $14 million they saved by releasing Norman will also help address those needs in free agency.

Gettleman has earned the trust of the team and the fans, even if his methods have been unpopular.  You can’t argue with results.