Panthers, Walker agree to contract
CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers were strangely calm over the weekend about the fact they weren't drafting defensive tackle help.
In hindsight, that's because they knew they were close to filling the gap while picks were coming off the board.
The Panthers agreed with veteran defensive tackle Darwin Walker on a one-year contract Monday, but it's not as if they waited until then to start looking for help.
"We were actually on the phone with them all weekend," agent Al Irby said Monday morning. "We've been talking to them for about six or seven weeks, trying to get Darwin there, because that's where he wanted to be."
The native of Walterboro stood as the best alternative in the free agent market after the Panthers were unable to address the need high in the draft. They did add Wisconsin's Nick Hayden in the sixth round, but knew when they didn't find one to their liking earlier that they'd need help.
Walker, who'll turn 31 in June, has spent eight mostly productive years in the league.
Originally a third-round pick by Arizona, he was cut there early, but spent seven years with Philadelphia. The Eagles traded him to Buffalo for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb in March 2007, but he never reported, and was moved to the Bears last July.
The Bears -- desperate at the spot after losing Tank Johnson -- signed him to an five-year, $25 million contract extension the next day, but cut him free in February rather than pay a $5.2 million option bonus.
Ironically, they did so the same day they released wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who came back here in March.
Walker played in just 11 games with seven starts, managing just 17 tackles and a single sack as he struggled with knee and elbow problems. But Irby said he's ready and able to get to work now.
"He moved his family to Miami so he could concentrate on his training," Irby said. "He's not going to go out like that, so he's eager to re-establish himself in the league."
Prior to his whirlwind tour of the league, however, he was one of the most productive interior defenders in the league. He had 26.5 sacks from 2002 to 2006 with the Eagles.
The Panthers obviously needed such a move, since they had little behind starters Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu.
Speaking of defense, the Panthers drafted a smallish, physical, fast safety from the Midwest on Sunday. Then they gave him jersey number 30.
In 1997, it was second-rounder Mike Minter from Nebraska. This year, it was third-rounder Charles Godfrey from Iowa, who claimed one of the most storied numbers the team has known. Godfrey wore the off-limits number 13 for the Hawkeyes, so he had to change, and the Panthers took Minter's 30 out after a year on ice.
Here are the numbers for the rest of the draft class: Jonathan Stewart (29), Jeff Otah (79), Dan Connor (44), Gary Barnidge (82), Hayden (78), Hilee Taylor (66), Glenn Schwartz (74) and Mackenzy Bernardeau (65).
The Panthers also signed 10 undrafted rookies to flesh out the roster, including South Carolina defensive end Casper Brinkley.
Brinkley, the twin brother of Gamecocks middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, had 13 tackles for loss and three sacks last year as he bounced between linebacker and defensive end.
They also signed the following players: Quarterback Taylor Tharp (Boise State), FB Breyone Evans (Massachusetts), WR Damon Morton (Colorado State), TE Chris Conklin (Wingate), DT Brandon Jenkins (Ole Miss), cornerbacks Cortney Grixby (Nebraska) and Darren Toney (Arkansas State), safety Joe Fields (Syracuse) and punter Dan Ziedman (Idaho State).
The moves give them 85 players on the roster, and they could ostensibly add four more since draft picks don't count toward the 80-man roster limit until they sign contracts.
This story was originally published April 29, 2008 at 12:38 AM with the headline "Panthers, Walker agree to contract."