Is Matt Ryan Really on the Panthers' Radar? - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

After getting a glowing scouting report on Matt Ryan from Carolina Panthers GM Marty Hurney, the Charlotte Observer created this scenario where the Panthers used their extra 3rd-round pick from the Kris Jenkins trade to move up to the 7th pick and steal Ryan away from the Patriots.

I would like to share with you a scenario that's just as likely to happen. It involves Jessica Simpson leaving Tony Romo for me. I'm just that irresistible to ditzy pop starlets, you see.

That might make me just as irresistible to all the ditzes out there who think Matt Ryan is the answer for Carolina. Yes, the uninformed would see Jake Delhomme coming off Tommy John surgery and two kids with very little game experience behind them and figure Ryan wouldn't be a bad pick -- even though he'd likely spend his first year with a headset and a clipboard.

That's not going to work here. Carolina needs to win now and needs an impact player with this first pick.

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com argues that Derrick Harvey is the only real option, reminding everyone that the last time John Fox passed up a QB for a pass rusher, he picked Julius Peppers over Joey Harrington. Last year notwithstanding, that worked out pretty well.

I say either Harvey or Ryan Clady are Fox's best bet in the first round. My reservations about Clady's Wonderlic score don't really change the fact that the kid from Boise State would probably be the Panthers' best left tackle going into training camp. If Carolina trades up at all, it should be for one of those guys, not for Ryan. The last thing John Fox needs is a guy who probably won't play until 2009. He needs someone that can help this team immediately.