The Carolina Panthers turned their attention to the secondary on the second day of the NFL draft 鈥?and added an extra draft pick along the way.
The Panthers selected cornerback Donte Jackson from LSU in the second round and safety Rashaan Gaulden from Tennessee in the third round Friday night
Troy Hill Jersey , one day after taking wide receiver D.J. Moore from Maryland with the 24th overall pick in round one.
"That is an area we wanted to upgrade," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said of the defensive backfield.
Carolina, coming off an 11-5 season, also wanted to get faster on defense 鈥?and it did.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Jackson possesses high-end speed, clocked at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combines. That tied him for the fastest 40-time among rookie cornerbacks.
"With Jackson, that is adding about as much speed as you can," Hurney said.
Coach Ron Rivera said the addition of Jackson and Gaulden gives them some swagger back in the secondary that they had been missing after the departure of All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman. Carolina's starting cornerbacks didn't have any interceptions through the first 14 games last season.
He feels like Jackson and Gaulden both have a big chip on their shoulder.
"My expectation is to be a starter from day one," Jackson said. "I am going to be more than ready and I anticipate being a starter."
Jackson could have a chance to start opposite James Bradberry as a rookie.
The Panthers traded last year's starter Daryl Worley to the Philadelphia, although the Eagles later waived him following an off-the-field incident. Carolina added Ross Cockrell in free agency and Kevon Seymour made some plays at cornerback last season.
Jackson played in all 12 games last season for the Tigers and was a second-team all-SEC selection in 2017. He started 12 of 13 games and had 49 tackles, an interception and 10 pass breakups.
Jackson said not being selected in the first round 鈥?he was taken with the 55th selection overall 鈥?has left him with a chip on his shoulder "the size of this hotel that I am staying in right now."
"Seeing all of those guys picked before me when I was thought to be a first-round draft pick, that chip grew with every pick that I didn't see my name called," said Jackson
Gerald Everett Jersey , who was a member of LSU's SEC Championship 4x100-relay track team last year.
Hurney said Jackson has outstanding ball skills, and the reason he likely fell to No. 55 overall was because of his lack of size.
Rivera said while Bradberry will cover the opposition's bigger receivers, Jackson can handle the smaller, faster ones.
"We feel like he can play outside corner and nickel," Hurney said.
The Panthers view the 6-foot-3, 193 Gaulden as a safety, although he has played some cornerback and nickel back for the Vols.
Rivera likes that Gaulden has good speed for his size and feels he can cover tight ends.
"I can play anything in the defensive backfield," Gaulden said. "It's just the confidence that I have had and through the coaches who trained me to be able to play any position in the back end. But I can play safety at a very high level and that is what the Panthers see me as."
Gaulden had only one interception during three seasons for the Vols, but had three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries last season.
"I try to get to the ball however I can," Gaulden said.
Carolina traded its other third-round pick, No. 88 overall, to Green Bay in exchange for the Packers' fourth- and fifth-round picks. The Panthers now have six picks on Saturday, including the first pick of the day
Spencer Drango Jersey , the 101st overall.
Hurney said that having the first pick in the third day of the draft is a "valuable spot."
LeSean McCoy had no doubts he’d be allowed to report for the start of Bills training camp after the running back was accused of bloodying his ex-girlfriend two weeks ago.
And McCoy on Thursday also said he’s confident he’ll be playing in Buffalo’s season opener at Baltimore on Sept. 9.
”I’m here right now, so I feel very confident,” McCoy said about an hour before the Bills opened training camp in suburban Rochester.
The comments were the first McCoy has made publicly since being accused of playing a role in his ex-girlfriend being injured during a home invasion at a house McCoy owns in the Atlanta suburbs.
No charges have been filed.
McCoy previously denied any involvement in the home invasion and other allegations posted on social media by a woman who appeared to be a friend of his ex-girlfriend.
McCoy on Thursday addressed the allegations just once in answering the first question during a near nine-minute news conference by saying: ”It’s an active investigation and I’ll leave it at that.”
He then repeatedly deflected other questions on what happened by saying he’s solely focused on being ready for training camp and the upcoming season.
”Right now, my main focus is here on my teammates, my team, trying to build together in camp to reach our goal together, and that’s a championship,” McCoy said.
”I don’t want to let things distract me or get in the way of that, because I’d be cheating my teammates,” he said. ”I came here focused for camp and just ready to play, ready to roll.”
General manager Brandon Beane said the team has done what he called its due diligence on the allegations and is satisfied by the conversations he’s had with the NFL, which is holding its own investigation.
”We feel comfortable that LeSean’s going to be here and ready to roll,” Beane said. ”We don’t see that changing.”
Coach Sean McDermott also backed McCoy.
”It’s a situation that we take very seriously because of the nature of the situation
Stephen Hauschka Jersey ,” McDermott said. ”That said, as Brandon mentioned, we’ve done our part, looked into what we need to look into and, as an organization, feel that we can move forward at this point in time.”
Court records show McCoy has been attempting to evict his former girlfriend, 34-year-old Delicia Cordon, for the past year. Police records show officers had previously been called to the home twice, but no violence was reported.
During the home invasion, a man entered the home around 3 a.m. on July 11, and demanded specific pieces of jewelry McCoy had given to Cordon and that he had asked her to give back many times.
Veteran linebacker Lorenzo Alexander called the allegations a private matter and said McCoy didn’t have to address anything with the team.
”He’ll continue to handle that and we’ll uplift him and support him in any way we can,” Alexander said following practice.
”Obviously, we feel for the victim as well. You never want to see anybody in those situations. So hopefully everything is found out and handled in a well manner
Jose Altuve Jersey ,” he added. ”But this won’t be a distraction for anybody in the locker room.”
McCoy said the team has been supportive, in noting he had a lengthy conversation with Beane and McDermott upon reporting to camp Wednesday.
”They’re backing me 110 percent,” he said. ”We’re moving forward.”
McCoy spent much of the past six weeks working out in southern Florida with several NFL players, including Miami Dolphins running back Frank Gore.
He said he’s lost about 13 pounds after weighing 225 a few months ago.
McCoy is entering his 10th NFL season and fourth with Buffalo since being acquired by the Bills in a trade with Philadelphia.
Now 30 years old, McCoy is coming off a season in which he had 1,138 yards rushing, and 1,586 yards from scrimmage (including 448 receiving) for the fifth-best totals of his career.
McCoy ranks third among active running backs and 29th overall with 10,092 yards rushing.
NOTES: The Bills signed free agent DT John Hughes to a one-year contract. Hughes has six years of NFL experience including spending last season with New Orleans, where he played eight games before sustaining a season-ending injury to his elbow. He spent his first four-plus seasons with Cleveland and has 10 starts in 66 games. … Beane declined to provide a timetable on when WR Zay Jones will be cleared for practice after having knee surgery in May. Jones opened camp on the active/non-football injury list. Beane said the team is being cautious to avoid any setback after the second-year player missed all of the team’s spring practices.
—
Womens Will Hernandez Jersey ,
