To many, what the Carolina Panthers did after this year's draft was more exciting than what they did during it.

If receiver Keyarris Garrett and linebacker Jeremy Cash turn into mid-round talents, the jewels of the Panthers' undrafted free agent class will be Dave Gettleman's latest steals. First, though, is the matter of making the roster, one that already includes tall wideouts and the original Shaq Thompson, not just a "poor man's version" of the versatile linebacker.

That's why, before the Panthers kick off the first of their two-day rookie minicamp Friday, it's worth learning more about North Dakota State fullback/tight end Andrew Bonnet.

The Panthers don't have anyone like him. But they used to.

While Richie Brockel never developed into much of an offensive threat, he left training camp with a job in each of the past five Septembers. The Panthers don't have a strong incumbent in that fullback/tight end/H-back/core special teams role, which is why they used one of their 30 official pre-draft visits on Bonnet and then signed him as an undrafted free agent.  

"I think teams value guys that do stuff like this,” he said Tuesday from his home in Council Bluffs, IA. "I just don't think there's a ton of guys out there that can do what I do."

 

College Stats	Rec	Yds	Rec TD	Rush Att	Yds	Rush TD
Bonnet (N. Dakota St.)	56	574	8	8	38	0
Brockel (Boise St.)	32	293	8	4	8	2

 

A utility man doesn't get much pub, but Bonnet (pronounced bon-IT) is in a good spot. The defending NFC champs are currently taking applications for a gig that doesn't have many qualified candidates.

"They're hard to find. It's not easy because you've got to remember there aren't any fullbacks at the college level,” Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said at February's combine. "It's kind of a lost-art, dying breed kind of thing. But for us, it's a piece that we like, and it gives us flexibility."

Granted, Gettleman was answering a question about fullbacks. But as he continued, the reasoning behind his proclivity for a fullback/tight end hybrid became clearer.

"The common threads of all (NFL) fullbacks right now is they all can catch. They give you that threat," he explained. "[Defenses] have to pay attention. Because on third-and-2, play action, bang, you're dropping the ball to him in the flat and the guy's running 7 yards for a first down. You move the sticks."

After redshirting his freshman year in Fargo, Bonnet turned a partial scholarship into a full ride by the start of his junior season. He played 55 games and won five Football Championship Series rings with the Bison, who put Bonnet in all sorts of spots.

They lined him up in the backfield, as a wing, in the slot and out wide. They used him as a lead blocker and in pass protection. They sent him on screen routes and down the field.

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Because Carson Wentz, his roommate for three years and future No. 2 overall pick, had quarterback covered, about the only thing Bonnet didn't do with the Bison was pass.

"Everything that a tight end or fullback could be asked to do, Andrew did it within every game,” NDSU offensive coordinator Tim Polasek said. "The kid's really gifted athletically as far as suddenness and explosiveness.

"In the NFL, in my understanding, they struggle to get into big personnel groupings because maybe their third tight end isn't very good. He's going to add a lot of versatility to personnel packages."

Before admitting the comparison "may be a reach," Polasek likened Bonnet's potential to Chris Cooley, the former Redskins' tight end who had 33 receiving touchdowns in his nine-year career. Because the 2003 third-round pick had more receptions than anyone else at his position during his senior season at Utah State, yeah, it's a stretch. But Polasek believes Bonnet is athletic enough to become a legit weapon in an NFL offense.

Besides, how many 6-foot-3, 245-pound guys can do this?: