Rams wide out Torry Holt has already stated that he does not want a contract extension with the Rams, and with that it looks like he would like to go home to wrap up his career, and playing at home means playing with the Panthers.  Holt’s brother Terrence Holt recently signed with the Panthers, and Torry was not shy in coming out and saying he’d like to do the same.

“I wanted to send in my resignation to the Rams and see if I could join him,” Torry Holt said last month about his brother playing for Carolina. “I’m excited, but I’m also a little jealous because I’ve always wanted an opportunity to come back home.”

It’s no shame for a player that has shown as much class as Holt to want to go home and finish his career.  Sure to Rams fans they are going to take it like he does not want to play for them, but Holt is a player that for sure deserves to play for any team he wants as he concludes a great career, and if that team is the Panthers - so be it.

“The real story is that I have this year and next year and hopefully I can finish those years out,” Holt said. “Then I will see where I am at. I will see where I am at physically and emotionally and financially. Then, if they would like to do something here I will consider it. If not, then I will have the option to go and explore and give my services somewhere else. If that happens, Carolina will definitely be my first choice. There is no question about it. I have 2008 and 2009 left to play and that is what I plan on doing.”

Now we’ll see if the Panthers may feel the same way in two years.

They are:  Casper Brinkley, DE, South Carolina; Chris Conklin, TE, Wingate; Cortney Grixby, CB, Nebraska; Breyone Evans, FB, Massachusetts; Joseph Fields, FS, Syracuse; Brandon Jenkins, DT, Mississippi; Damon Morton, WR, Colorado State, Taylor Tharp, QB, Boise State; Darren Toney, CB, Arkansas State; Dan Ziedman, P, Idaho State.

Each player must pass a physical and sign a contract before being eligible to participate in a minicamp that opens on Friday.

If you were wondering the Panthers thought process in taking a running back with the 13th pick, it may have made a lot more sense when the team moved up in the first round to take tackle Jeff Otah with the 19th pick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Otah is a massive guy that can do a lot of good on the Panthers line.  He was the last first-round worthy tackle, and he has the size to make a big impact on the teams line.

Here is a scouting report on Otah from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Has outstanding size with a huge frame and long arms…Great athlete with terrific quickness…Very light on his feet…Extremely strong and powerful…Is physical and aggressive…Mobile with nice range…Has a good initial punch..Shows the ability to recover when beat…Offers some versatility…Still improving and has major upside.

Weaknesses:
Very raw and might be a bit of a project…Has some trouble with quickness…Hand use is sub par…Does not always play with proper leverage…He needs to work on getting in better shape…Work ethic and desire have been questioned…Has some trouble with power…Only has two years of experience against top DI competition.

Notes:
Native of Nigeria…Didn’t start playing football until his final year in high school…A JUCO transfer who spent two years at Valley Forge Military Academy…A potential left tackle and that’s where he played in college but could also project to the right side as well…An excellent physical specimen who is already a great player but still oozes potential…Might just have a higher upside than any o-linemen in this draft.

And here is ESPN’s take on Otah:

Trading back up to get Otah makes sense for the Panthers. The other five tackles who were projected to go in the first round all have been selected. Otah lacks ideal athletic ability and needs running back or tight end help at times in pass protection. Still, he has excellent size and is a fierce competitor who excels at driving defenders off the ball.

Kind of a head scratcher, but the Panthers feel like they need playmakers on offense, so they went with a running back on Saturday in the first round, taking running back Jonathan Stewart from Oregon.  5-10, 235 pounds, Stewart is a very good athlete, and can break tackles and wear down defenses.  He does have some injury concerns, but if he pans out, can be a solid 1-2 punch with DeAngelo Williams.

Here is a scouting report on  from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
A great athlete…Has outstanding size and a thick build..Excellent speed and good quickness…Very strong…Runs hard and with great power..He attacks the line and gets upfield in a hurry…Patient runner with great vision…Nice balance and change of direction skills…Big play threat who can take it the distance…Has terrific hands and can catch the ball out of the backfield…Solid blocker…Tough…Doesn’t have a lot of mileage on his tires…Hard worker with great intangibles…Also a return man.

Weaknesses:
Has battled a lot of minor injuries and durability is a concern…Doesn’t have much wiggle and is not overly explosive…Did his damage in a spread offense…Does not always play up to his timed speed..Carried the load for just one season in college.

Notes:
One of the nation’s premier recruits coming out of high school…Ankle injuries have been a continuing problem for him…Led the country in kickoff returns ( 33.7 avg. ) as a true freshman…Multi-dimensional and versatile with a rare blend of size and speed…Can be one of the best running backs in the league if he can stay healthy.

And here is ESPN’s take on Stewart:

Carolina still has a need at offensive tackle so it wouldn’t have surprised us if the Panthers had taken one here. However, their second most pressing need, in our opinion, is running back. Stewart’s stock dropped because of a toe injury that required surgery; it is one of a few nagging injuries he’s endured during his career. His stock has really bounced back recently as he will likely be ready for training camp. He’s a power back who can pick up the tough yards between the tackles and has the burst to go the distance when he gets into the open field.