Carolina Panthers: 2006 NFL Draft do-over (7 rounds)
By Josh Linares
DE. ELVISDUMERVIL. 89. player. 87. LOUISVILLE. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Carolina Panthers 2006 Draft: Elvis Dumervil over Rashad Butler (No. 89)
If the NFL Draft actually went this way, the biggest loser would be the Denver Broncos considering they took Brandon Marshall and Elvis Dumervil in the fourth round. Both players were a pivotal part of their success from the moment they stepped on the field. And taking them proved to be a masterstroke by the organization.
With their second third-round pick the Carolina Panthers took Rashad Butler, who was an absolute bust. He was injured his rookie year and was cut at training camp the following season after failing to get back to the talent of old.
More from Cat Crave
- Ranking the top-five QB prospects the Panthers could draft in 2023
- 4 remaining Carolina Panthers cap crunches after Damien Wilson release
- Could Duce Staley help Carolina Panthers land Jamaal Williams in 2023?
- How much could the Carolina Panthers afford to offer Lamar Jackson?
- 4 Panthers rumors to emerge from 2023 NFL Scouting Combine
Taking Dumervil with the 89th pick would have given the Panthers a great pass rusher alongside Julius Peppers. This could have wreaked havoc on any given down and given them a strong edge base from which to build.
Dumervil made five Pro Bowls during his career and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2009 and 2014. He also finished his career with 105.5 sacks. And only 34 players in NFL history have finished with 100+ quarterback takedowns in their career.
The Panthers could have taken anyone else with this pick and it would have been an upgrade on Butler. The injury didn’t help. But he was given every chance to make a success of his career and failed to live up to expectations coming out of college.
If Carolina would have been able to get Marshall and Dumervil back to back it would have been huge for their future.