Carolina Panthers: 2008 NFL Draft do-over (7 rounds)

Carolina Panthers 2008 Draft: Orlando Scandrick over Gary Barnidge (No. 141)

This pick could be very controversial. Gary Barnidge wasn’t a great player for the Carolina Panthers. He only started 11 games over four seasons and found the end zone just once in that period.

Barnidge finally reached his ceiling out of nowhere for the Cleveland Browns in 2015. The tight end caught 79 passes for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns in a complete turnaround in fortunes. This goes to show just what a good scheme-fit can do for a player, which is something he didn’t find in Carolina or elsewhere.

Without that impressive season, Orlando Scandrick would be the obvious pick. While the cornerback wasn’t classed as your stereotypical star during his career. He did evolve into a quality starting option.

There aren’t a lot of big names at this spot in the draft and taking Scandrick would be a solid pick that would give the Carolina Panthers someone to play opposite of Aqib Talib in this particular scenario. Putting the player as a No. 2 option rather than shouldering all the responsibility might have prolonged his career even further in the right sort of setting.

If Scandrick could have been a slot corner, one suspects he would have been much more productive. Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys needed him to be their No. 1 option and cover elite receivers.

This isn’t a huge upgrade for the Panthers. But Scandrick would have produced more than Barnidge at that time.