The Carolina Panthers touched on all of their needs in the 2012 NFL Draft, and will soon go to work with the seven new players they selected when minicamp begins in two weeks.
Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly was drafted by Carolina in the first round with the ninth overall pick, and Midwestern State offensive lineman Amini Silatolu was taken in the second round with the 40th overall pick.
The team drafted five players Saturday, checking off a laundry list of needs. Here is a quick look at those five selections:
Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma, Fourth round, 103rd overall
Athletic, explosive and versatile, the 6-foot-3, 259-pound Alexander gives the Panthers a pass rusher they badly need. Alexander (6-foot-4, 270) registered 8 1/2 sacks this past season, in which he was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12, and for his career had 20 1/2 sacks.
"He can play in critical pass rush situations, and he can play on third downs," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Saturday. "He has the kind of ability that lends to making plays and we are really excited about him. We were actually watching (film) of another player and he just kept popping up. The more you watch tape you realize, 'Hey, there is something to this guy.'"
Alexander recently had a scary false alarm. He was told at the combine he had a hole in his heart, but after several other opinions he realized that was a misdiagnosis.
"It was just a misread test at the combine, but the doctor told me at the combine that they didn't want to take any chances with me because it was a liability," Alexander said. "If I got out there and hurt my heart or passed out or anything, I'm not going to question why it happened. All I can do is move forward and just be happy for what's happening right now."
Joe Adams, WR/PR, Arkansas, Fourth round, 104th overall
Carolina needed another receiver and got one in Adams. He caught 54 passes for 652 yards and three touchdowns last fall, but he's also only 5-foot-11. The Panthers already have a short go-to receiver in Steve Smith. They might have been wiser to go for someone longer. However, he's so talented, as both a slot receiver and return man – he returned four punts for scores last season – he should contribute.
"His vision, the way he runs with the ball, the way he creates; he averages 16 yards per return, which is great," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "He gives you one less first down to get."
Adams doesn't care where the Panthers ask him to play, he's already seen it all.
"I've been doing it (punt returns) since I was little," he said. "I've actually been playing every position in football since I was a kid. That just helped me out for when I got to high school and then made it even easier when I got to college."
Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina, Fifth round, 143rd overall
At 6-feet, 197 pounds, Norman is tall for a cornerback. He's also lean and very athletic and could present problems for taller wide receivers. Coastal is a fairly new program that is an FCS member, so the quality of competition may require some adjustments.
Norman was ready when he spoke to the media Saturday. He's done his homework.
"Absolutely," he said when asked if he knows anyone on the Panthers. "Big Mike Tolbert, he just came up from San Diego. He was a Carolina boy. He was with the Chargers and now he's with Carolina. And Armanti Edwards, he played at my high school. He's with Carolina.
"Everybody knows Cam Newton. … And also the owner, Mr. Jerry Richardson. He's the only (owner) who played in the NFL and owned a team, so that's big. That says a lot."
Brad Nortman, P, Wisconsin, Sixth round, 207th overall
It wasn't such a surprise that the Panthers used a pick to get a punter after they released veteran Jason Baker. Nortman averaged 42.2 yards per punt this past season and booted eight of them 50 or more yards.
"Well, I was very honored," Nortman said. "I wanted to go somewhere where I could have an opportunity. When I got the call, I wasn't really surprised, just very excited to get down there."
D.J. Campbell, S, California, Seventh round, 216th selection
Campbell is athletic, but it may be a struggle for him to find a spot on the depth chart. The word is he was drafted to help improve Carolina's poor special teams coverage.
