Carolina Panthers: 2009 NFL Draft do-over (6 Rounds)
By Josh Linares
Scouting Report. CB. player. 87. Pick Analysis. RUTGERS. JASONMCCOURTY. 163
Carolina Panthers 2009 Draft: Jason McCourty over Duke Robinson (No. 163)
The Carolina Panthers took Oklahoma offensive tackle Duke Robinson with the 163rd pick. But he never played a single game in the NFL.
Robinson went on to play in the Arena Football league from 2013-2016 without ever making it again to the next level. It’s tough to call someone a bust at this stage in the draft, so this was just a bad pick.
The right selection would have been Jason McCourty who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans at No. 203 overall. The player had to wait until year three for a starting chance. And this is something he took full advantage of.
McCourty quickly became one of the best corners in the NFL. Over his eight seasons with the Titans, he had 13 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, and 506 total tackles.
He had a quick pit stop with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. But then reunited with his twin brother Devin McCourty in New England for what turned out to be a profitable partnership that brought plenty of success.
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The brother tandem won a Super Bowl together in 2019 when the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams. The team recently gave McCourty an extension, so he and his brother will continue to play together for the foreseeable future.
If the Panthers would have drafted McCourty it would have given them an elite corner which is something they desperately need. This might also have played a role in Devin eventually coming to the organization.