Even if Greg Hardy plays most of this season with the Cowboys, the Panthers aren’t expecting to receive a compensatory draft pick for their former star defensive end.
Hardy had his suspension reduced from 10 games to four by an arbitrator earlier this month, which led to speculation Carolina was in line to earn a third-round comp pick.
BBR has been reporting since April that was unlikely to happen, which general manager Dave Gettleman confirmed Friday. He’s been told not to anticipate any additional picks when the NFL sorts out its complicated and secretive formula next spring.
“I would challenge anybody to read that thing. I can’t explain it to you, but (director of team administration Rob Rogers) has explained it to me,” Gettleman said.
The big problem is the Panthers likely won’t even qualify to be in the formula. To be eligible for anything better than a seventh-round pick, a team has to have lost more qualifying unrestricted free agents than it gained. The Panthers broke even.
GAINED
S Kurt Coleman
LB Jason Trusnik
CB Charles Tillman
LOST
DE Greg Hardy (Cowboys)
CB James Dockery (Raiders)
OT Byron Bell (Titans)
There’s a chance Carolina could slip back ahead in the gained/lost department if one or more of the Coleman/Trusnik/Tillman group doesn’t make the roster. But according to a league source, Dockery isn’t expected to count in the Panthers’ favor.
On the surface, it looks like Gettleman sacrificed a potential third-round pick for a trio of non-marquee free agents. His challenge, though, was needing to add free agent help while Hardy’s status with the league remained unclear.
Armed with a pair of comp picks this spring, Gettleman maneuvered up in the draft for receiver Devin Funchess and offensive tackle Daryl Williams. He won’t be able to make similar moves next year, but it’s hard to fault him for trying to patch up holes this year.
“Would I like to have three extra comp picks every year? Who wouldn’t? But I don’t constantly sit there and say, ‘Oh, we can’t sign this guy because we’re not going to get a comp pick.’ I’m not going to let that stop me from building a roster,” Gettleman said.
“If there’s a guy out there that could help us win and fills a niche, I’m not going to worry about comp picks.”
8 a.m. — Cam Newton’s Offseason
10 a.m. — Negotiations
12 p.m. — Josh Norman
2 p.m. — Current Salary Cap Status
4 p.m. — 2016 Comp Picks