Wanted: More bulk

The NFL draft is nearly a week away, and I just realized I haven't made a post on it yet. I'm the ultimate NFL draft nerd - buy preview magazines, get the day off work, load up on cheese dip and Diet Mountain Dew (although the cheese dip kind of defeats the purpose of diet soda, no?).

I haven't gotten into draft news and rumors as much as I have in the past. A lot of that has to do with being busy at work, and I also got really into the NCAA tournament this year.

But it's time to address some of the issues the hometown Carolina Panthers face this draft. This certainly could be a make-or-break year for general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox, so it's important they make prudent decision and get no less than three players who will somehow contribute right away, either as a starter or key reserve.

The biggest needs are on the offensive and defensive lines. I'm a big believer in "winning the battle in the trenches," or whatever else you want to call it. If you look at recent teams that advanced to the Super Bowl, they all had good lines. The last - and only - time Carolina advanced to the Super Bowl, it had perhaps the best defensive line in football and a top-10 offensive line.

After a tremendously disappointing year from DE Julius Peppers and an unclear picture on the offensive line, that's where the Panthers should go in the draft.

I think the best pick for them is Boise State tackle Ryan Clady. He's a natural left tackle, which means Jordan Gross stays at right tackle. That would push Travelle Wharton back inside to guard and create some healthy competition for the offensive line's interior. Chris Williams from Vanderbilt or Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh wouldn't be bad picks, but ideally Carolina would like to trade down and get them.

Another intriguing prospect is Derrick Harvey, the defensive end from Florida. He's had a few phenomenal workouts - save for a pretty slow 40 time - and a solid career at Florida. Harvey, combined with Charles Johnson, Stanley McClover and Tyler Braton, would give the Panthers plenty of options for the second defensive end. Harvey, though, is one of those workout wonders, and that sometimes doesn't translate to on-the-field production.

Then there's the dark horse pick, someone like RB Rashard Mendenhall or even RB Jonathan Stewart. I wouldn't have a problem with those picks, as either one would likely get significant carries next season.