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That is the Panthers' roster of picks heading into this week's draft. The selections that were dealt the last 12 months are included because the success of this draft class will be as much judged by the progress of Everette Brown, Louis Leonard and Tank Tyler as that of the players drafted in the next few days.

It's conceivable that Brown, Leonard and Tyler could represent three-fourths of the starting defensive line next year. With Julius Peppers in Chicago, Damione Lewis released and Hollis Thomas not under contract, the Panthers are without three men who made 42 of 64 combined starts on the defensive line. The release of Maake Kemoeatu only exacerbates the loss of experience, since he was a starter before tearing his Achilles tendon on the first drill of training camp.

Brown and Leonard each started one game apiece. Tyler never broke into the starting lineup. But their learning curve in the camps of the coming months will not be as steep as the ones facing the rookies. Their performance will be easier to judge in 2010 than the rookies the Panthers will pick.

AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT Mike Goodson; he was also picked up with a pick acquired in the trade of this year's first-round pick, as the Panthers received a fourth-round selection from the 49ers. His performance will also help determine the success or failure of the 2010 class.

WHAT CAN THE PANTHERS EXPECT TO SEE AT THEIR PICKS? General manager Marty Hurney repeated the idea of flexibility so often at his Tuesday press conference that it ascended from philosophy to mantra. But it's the only way to attack the draft when the first pick isn't scheduled to come until Friday night. There will, as always, be players who unexpectedly drop down the draft board, changing the draft's complexion on a moment-to-moment basis.

But a look at the last decade of selections at each of the Panthers' slots provides some clues as to the caliber of players that await the Panthers for their eight selections. And as some of the later picks show, standout players could await in the later rounds.

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