Is anyone happy having a mauler like Jeff Otah?  Let’s hope so.  First, who is to say that the team could have hit on a pick so solidly this year had they not made that draft-day trade with Philadelphia last year?  They gave up a lot, sure.  But solid tackles don’t grow on trees.  If they did, every NFL franchise would plant one in their back yard.

We’ll all be watching while the Eagles use what would have been our pick at number 28.  It may hurt a little bit but that’s still nine spots below where the team selected Otah last year.  Whether the deal was good or bad will be answered over the coming seasons and in how Otah performs but so far it is looking pretty good.

Of course, all of this means that we’ll be waiting all the way to round two and pick 59 before the Panthers go on the clock.  That is provided, of course, that a deal isn’t reached to send the disgruntled Julius Peppers somewhere that he can “reach his full potential.”

Time to break it down, position by position, in order to determine the areas of greatest need in April’s draft.

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