Who? That’s a fair question, as Kugbila near actually played in a game for the Panthers, and that includes the preseason. Kugbila was an offensive lineman the Panthers took in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of Valdosta State. Unfortunately, he soon got hurt, and then got hurt again, and has had at least four surgeries over the past two years.
The Panthers only had five picks in 2013 (no third or seventh round selections). They took defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short in the first and second round respectively and both have contributed. Kugbila in the fourth round was obviously a bust and running back Kenjon Barner, who the Panthers took in the sixth round, spent last season on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. Fifth-round selection Linebacker A.J. Klein — who doesn’t turn 24 until July — looked like a solid pick and was getting considerable playing time last season (eight starts). Yet the Panthers obviously think Klein isn’t the answer as that they took linebacker Shaq Thomson in the first round of this year’s draft.
If you don’t have a lot of draft picks, you got to make the ones you do have count, and Panthers didn’t really do that in 2013. Coming up on three years in, the Panthers turned three fourth through sixth round selections into, at best, a reserve and special teams linebacker. That’s just not good enough if the Panthers are going to consistently contend in the NFL.
