Ready to get work for the panthers!!
— Daryl Williams Jr. (@DarylWilliams79) May 2, 2015
- Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman didn’t come right out and say it, but he made it clear in Tuesday’s pre-draft press conference that he was planning to make a deal or two. After moving up 16 spots to grab receiver Devin Funchess in Friday’s second round, Gettleman jumped 22 spots Saturday to take offensive tackle Daryl Williams in the fourth. The Panthers started the draft with nine picks. The Funchess trade cost them their 3rd and 6th while Williams took away their 5th and 7th. Now they have two picks left: two (untradeable) compensatory selections at the end of the 5th. And Gettleman stressed on Saturday that those comps allowed him to be more aggressive than he has been in previous drafts.
- Williams, hoping to be drafted no later than the third round, gathered with family Friday night. So when he wasn’t taken, he was “devastated.” His drop worked out well for the Panthers, who had a third-round grade on the 6-foot-5, 327-pounder.
- Panthers assistant offensive line coach Ray Brown flew to Oklahoma late last month to work out Williams and Tyrus Thompson. They were three-year starters for the Sooners, with Williams at right tackle and Thompson on the left side. There’s a chance Williams could eventually get a look at left tackle or at guard, but 34 of his 35 starts were at right tackle.
- As of now, Mike Remmers is still penciled in as the Panthers’ starting right tackle. But that could change by the end of the summer. Williams adds strong competition and Jonathan Martin may also end up in the mix.
- If you didn’t get a chance to listen to the BBR Podcast I recorded with Williams and Thompson last week, here’s another chance.