CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The last time the Carolina Panthers took a safety in the first round of the NFL draft, it was a kid from Georgia who turned into one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
That was Thomas Davis in 2005.
The Panthers never have selected a true safety in the first round, but there are reasons to believe it could happen this year.
Starting strong safety Mike Adams is 37 and is in the last year of his contract -- and probably his NFL career. Da’Norris Searcy, signed in free agency, lost his starting job at Tennessee last year and never has put up impressive numbers.