A Deal Is Struck and the Panthers Pick at 43

UPDATE:  The Panthers gave up next year’s first-round draft pick to gain another second-round pick in this year’s draft to take Brown.  Sounds like a high price to pay.  Too high!  The Panthers did get this year’s second (43) and number 111 (fourth round).

The Carolina Panthers struck a deal to move into the 43rd spot with the Niners to select Everette Brown, DE, Florida State.  It’s unclear what the team gave up.  We’ll try to get the details for you.

From NFL.com:

Overview

The two-year starter emerged as one of the elite pass rushers in the collegiate ranks as a junior. With National Football League teams putting much more emphasis on speedy edge rushers, Brown felt it was the right time to forgo his senior season and applied for the 2009 NFL Draft. With his athletic ability and quickness off the snap, the only question NFL teams have about Brown is where to play him.

Teams that utilize the 3-4 alignment feel Brown can make a successful move to strong-side outside linebacker, comparing him to Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware, an undersized former college defensive end who has had great success after moving to linebacker. Other teams feel that his pass rush burst off the snap might be a better fit to play rush end, where he has been likened to Indianapolis’ Robert Mathis.

Inn 25 starting assignments, the right defensive end registered 23 sacks, tying for fifth on the school career record list. He is just the fifth player in Seminoles history to record more than 40 stops behind the line of scrimmage (46.5), moving ahead of Hall of Fame nose guard Ron Simmons (44, 1977-80) for second on the FSU all-time record list behind Darnell Dockett (65, 2000-03). Most of those totals came during his 2008 campaign, as his 13.5 sacks and 21.5 stops for loss both rank third on the school single-season record list.

Brown also became one of Florida State’s leaders when it comes to community service, donating his time freely. Brown has volunteered at Riley Elementary and Speight Middle School, with booster groups, The Able Trust, MDA Summer Camp and the Tallahassee Seminole Club. He has also contributed his time to the Dick Howser Center for Childhood Services, Life Skills Center and Read Across America, among many others.

At Beddingfield High School, Brown was rated a four-star prospect, the third-best weak-side defensive end and 78th-ranked overall player in the country by Rivals.com. He was rated the fifth-best player in North Carolina and the state’s premier defensive lineman by Super Prep.

As a senior, Brown recorded 120 tackles with 16 sacks. He also excelled as a tight end, coming up with 40 receptions for 770 yards (19.25 avg) and 10 touchdowns. After his final campaign, he played in the Shrine Bowl All-Star game. A heavy recruiting battle ensued, but Florida State emerged as the victors over North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Georgia and North Carolina State for Brown’s services.

The freshman appeared in two games, but did not record any tackles in 2005 before the staff decided to grant him a redshirt. The following season, he played in 13 games, starting three contests. He finished ninth on the team with 27 tackles (16 solos), posting three sacks while ranking second on the squad with 13.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also blocked a kick, earning Freshman All-American honors from The Sporting News.

Brown started eight games at left defensive end and one more on the right side in 2006. He led the Seminoles with 6.5 sacks and placed second on the squad with 11.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also made 37 tackles (24 solos) while deflecting three passes.

In 2008, Brown was stationed at right defensive end, where he led the Atlantic Coast Conference and finished third in the nation with 13.5 sacks, tying for third on the school single-season record list. The All-American second-team pick and ACC Player of the Year runner-up was also a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s premier defensive end. His 21.5 stops for loss ranked fourth nationally and also ranked third on FSU’s annual record chart. He caused four fumbles and totaled 36 hits (30 solos) in 13 starts.