Panthers General Manager Dave Gettleman has spoken lovingly about this year’s college defensive tackle class.
But he is making sure he doesn’t have to take one based on need, with nearly a month before the draft.
The Panthers filled out their depth chart at their G.M.'s favorite position by re-signing veteran backup defensive tackle Kyle Love.
They brought Love back on a one-year deal, after bringing in veteran Paul Soliai earlier this offseason.
Love, a former Patriots starter whose career hit a speed bump with a diabetes diagnosis, has become a valuable part for the Panthers since they picked him up late in 2014. He started a pair of games for them last year, and is good insurance behind Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei.
Of course, none of that is enough to keep Gettleman from drafting a defensive tackle (since there are contractual issues looming with both Short and Lotulelei down the line), but he’s given himself some flexibility.