CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dave Gettleman likely will get more questions at today’s pre-draft news conference about rescinding the franchise tag of cornerback Josh Norman than what he will do with the 30th pick.
Not that the Carolina Panthers general manager would reveal what he’s doing in the first round, anyway.
Like any good poker player, Gettleman holds his cards close to his vest. Wednesday’s decision to make Norman an unrestricted free agent and free to sign with another team is proof of that.
Nobody saw it coming, not even Norman and his representatives.
But it certainly added a twist to today’s 11 a.m. news conference. The cornerback position, which otherwise might have been an afterthought in terms of questions, is now front and center.
In all likelihood, the Panthers won’t find Norman’s replacement in the first round. The top two corners -- Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey and Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III -- are almost guaranteed to be gone by the 30th pick.
And Ramsey is listed as a safety by some.
Ohio State’s Eli Apple, Houston’s William Jackson III and Clemson’s Mackensie Alexander might be around, but none is considered a candidate to start as a rookie.
Regardless, cornerback has to be near the top -- if not at the top -- of Carolina’s need list.
Before the Norman decision, the top need was defensive end. Some mock drafts had the Panthers selecting Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah, who reportedly was scheduled to visit Carolina and Atlanta this week.
The Panthers need a long-term replacement for Charles Johnson, who signed a one-year deal to return during free agency.
There also has been speculation Carolina could go with a defensive tackle, safety, offensive tackle, running back or even a tight end.
If the Panthers take a tight end in the first round, it will be the first time in team history that has happened.
One indication as to what direction the Panthers are looking in might be found in the players they brought in for official visits or worked out privately.
Of the 25 players Carolina has shown interest in, there are three cornerbacks, one defensive tackle, three defensive ends, three tight ends, five safety/linebackers, five wide receivers, four offensive tackles and one running back.
None of the corners on that list (see below) is considered first-round material.
The last time the Panthers took a cornerback in the first round was 2004, when they selected Chris Gamble out of Ohio State with the 28th pick.
Gamble went on to become Carolina’s all-time interceptions leader with 27.
Gettleman doesn’t gamble. He goes with the best player available.
Here’s a list of the 25 players that reportedly have visited or will visit the Panthers heading into the draft to at least give you an idea of what Gettleman is considering:
Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State
Moritz Boehringer, WR, German Football League
Kevin Byard, S, Middle Tennessee State
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Shon Coleman, OT, Auburn
Su'a Cravens, LB/S, Southern California
Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Keyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M
Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
Miles Killebrew, S/LB, Southern Utah
Joe Haeg, OT, North Dakota State
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Harlan Miller, CB, SE Louisiana
Michael Miller, TE, Taylor University
Chris Moore, WR, Cincinnati
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma
Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State
Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina
Darian Thompson, S, Boise State
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State