Greg Hardy News

Dave Gettleman has preached patience when looking at the Carolina Panthers' team needs, but is this approach more smoke than substance? Despite a successful draft, the Carolina Panthers still have myriad needs left unfilled.

Lots of odds and ends around the division on this Monday. Let's take a look: ATLANTA FALCONS Marc Sessler ranks the Falcons and Saints as the fifth-best rivalry in the NFL.

Several hours after being cut by the Panthers on Monday morning, defensive end Thomas Keiser said he expects to land on his feet.

Then again, he didn't expect Purdue's Kawann Short would be there in the middle of the second round.

Tom Sorensen has been a columnist at The Observer for 20 years and has been at the paper for 25, writing about nearly every sport in the Carolinas.

The weeks following the NFL draft are where you typically see turnover in scouting departments, especially with new general managers.

There is a lot to be excited for, but there are significant pitfalls the Panthers need to avoid this year.

With OTAs and training camp around the corner, the Carolina Panthers are making the necessary preparations to put the best team possible on the football field.

The selection of Star Lotulelei by the Carolina Panthers was the perfect union of best player available meeting need.

Will any of Carolina's undrafted free agent signings find a home on the final roster? Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports The Carolina Panthers wrapped up their draft last weekend and jumped right into the free-agent pool once the final pick was made.

The NFL draft is in the rear-view mirror, and the Carolina Panthers are ready to embark upon rookie minicamp and their upcoming organized team activities .

Carolina Panthers B+ Getting Star Lotulelei at 14 was a steal, plain and simple.

As Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera stepped up on a riser Saturday at Bank of America Stadium, the ties they wore the first two nights of the draft were gone and the collars on their button-down blue shirts were open.

BUCS: Tampa Bay stayed patient and filled some needs, moving up to draft Roy Miller's replacement in DT Akeem Spence.

The Carolina Panthers surprisingly ignored their defensive tackle position on draft day last year.

The Carolina Panthers suddenly can’t get enough of the big guys – they drafted their second straight 300-plus pound defensive tackle Friday night in the second round.

The middle rounds of the draft may be where great general managers make their money, but hitting or missing on first-round picks can make or break a franchise.

He was the first top-50 choice the Panthers have used on a defensive tackle since Kris Jenkins in 2001, and in the ideal world he will be the player who occupies two blockers inside and frees up Luke Kuechly to make tons of tackles and Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson to rush the passer more effectively.

North Carolina's Sylvester Williams sacks Miami quarterback Jacory Harris for a loss during a 2011 game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.

There isn't much Carolina Panthers ' fans can agree on when it comes to the NFL draft, but I think everyone would be of the consensus that the 2010 class was an unmitigated disaster.