That makes this draft unlike any other for the team. No single position stands out as an area of serious need, but the team does need a little help in a number of areas.

Probably the position still the least solid is at running back. DeShaun Foster, when healthy, has Pro Bowl talent but history dictates he will eventually get hurt.

With apologies to gritty Nick Goings, the Panthers are in need of a serious go to back up to Foster. So conventional wisdom is that the Panthers will go with a running back with the 27th overall selection Saturday.

Despite seeing his stock drop due to poor pre-draft workouts, the Panthers’ top brass still likes USC’s Landale White. He has been compared to Jerome Bettis, has great hands and scored a whopping 52 touchdowns as a Trojan in just three seasons and he fits the team’s power running attack.

If White isn’t available then Marty Hurney and gang could turn to Lawrence Maroney out of Minnesota. He isn’t real big, but he is a big play guy who really impressed scouts at the combine.

And another avenue the Panthers may go in the first round is cornerback. With the loss of Ricky Manning this week to Chicago, the Panthers could use another body in the defensive secondary.

Many scouts covet Rock Hill native Jonathan Joseph who ran a 4.3 forty at the combine. He basically played one full season for the Gamecocks, but has raw talent.

Joseph probably won’t last until number 27 so another possibility for the Panthers is Donte Winter out of Ohio State. He has very good speed and is not really big, however he can play both safety and cornerback as the Panthers also have to start grooming Mike Minter’s future replacement.

Do with that said if Lendale White is available that is Chuck’s choice. However, if he is gone and Jonathan Joseph is available, the local kid could play professionally just 20 miles from his hometown.