Panthers, Jets come out winners in big 2007 draft-day transaction

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- If it takes a few years to properly grade a draft, the same has to be true for draft-day trades.

So after nearly three years of evidence, it's clear that the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers were both winners in a 2007 deal.

The Jets, eager to move up to grab University of Pittsburgh cornerback Darrelle Revis, sent first- and second-round picks (25th and 59th overall) to the Panthers for the 14th overall selection.

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The Panthers, whose needs at corner weren't so dire with Chris Gamble emerging alongside Ken Lucas, turned those picks into middle linebacker Jon Beason and center Ryan Kalil, who are on their way to being cornerstones of their respective sides of the ball for years to come.

It's rare that one turns out this way, as the scattershot nature of the draft makes such win-win pairings rare.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said in an April interview that the deal came together quickly and easily, saying that dealing with Panthers general manager Marty Hurney was simple because of his straightforward nature and ability to keep a secret.

The Jets determined that the 14th pick was a safe “landing spot” from which to grab Revis, and once that was determined, Tannenbaum said there was no use calling other teams in the area.

“I love dealing with Marty, because he's very honest, a straight-shooter,” Tannenbaum said. “You'll call him up, and he'll say, ‘Here's the price of doing business,' and you can take it back to your people with confidence. You don't have to worry about a trade being a moving target with him. ...

“I think you can always tell from the sound of someone's voice if they're ready to make the deal or not. With Marty, you could tell pretty quickly it was something he wanted to do.”

The two would hook up on another deal the following year, with Tannenbaum sending a third- and fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft for disgruntled defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, a deal that wouldn't look nearly as good for the Panthers if Jenkins weren't on injured reserve (though his past made that a consideration at the time of the deal). The Panthers turned those picks into safety Charles Godfrey and tight end Gary Barnidge, players who still are finding their roles with the team.

But the 2007 swap has turned into gold for both teams, with trying to find a distinction getting down to the hair-splitting of finances.

Revis got a six-year, $30 million contract (which included $11 million guaranteed and pays him $16 million the first four years, with some hefty buy-back payments on the backside for the final two years). Beason's deal was for five years and $12.5 million, while Kalil signed a four-year, $3 million contract, which means the Panthers have nearly half the cash invested in this deal and twice the positions capably filled.

Revis has developed into one of the league's top corners, Beason already has made a Pro Bowl, and Kalil has proven at trustworthy center who still is getting better.

Beason laughed when asked about the deal, because during the predraft process he got to know Revis well. They were both thought to be in the same range of the draft, figuring to be taken anywhere from 10th to later in the first. Revis was rated higher, but Beason was an emerging player whose stock rose significantly late in the process, as he impressed teams in interviews with his maturity and leadership potential.

“We were on a lot of trips together, so we were on planes together, going through the whole interview process in April,” Beason said of Revis. “I thought he was a good player at Pitt, but he's played great. I mean, I think he (was) one of the better corners two years ago as a rookie.

“But we got a starting center here, a starting mike linebacker. I think Kalil is as good as any center in the league, and I think I play pretty good. So I say we won that one.”

Then he laughed, and said something his bosses no doubt appreciate: “And the Panthers saved some money.”