Not many sports websites keep up to date with depth charts, but in my opinion, CBS Sports has done a darn good job. 

In a four-part series, here is Carolina's , followed with three things I like, and three things I don't.

Three Things I like

1) QB Depth -- Cam Newton is obviously a star, but having Derek Anderson as a back-up is certainly fantastic, as he has proved to be a serviceable player. 

2) RB Depth -- No explanation needed here. The Panthers are loaded in the backfield. 

3) Greg Olsen -- It was obviously important to get Newton more weapons in the passing game, and the team has done that. Steve Smith and the former Chicago Bears tight end should do wonders. 

Three Things I dislike

1) DT Depth -- Don't care for the DTs on this team at all. The linebackers are surely going to get a lot of work.

2) Safeties -- The FS and SS positions are fairly weak on this squad, especially with other teams in the division having strong ones. 

3) Right side of offensive line -- Jeff Otah has to step up, as does Geoff Hangartner, or everyone will be expecting the back to run left. Let's see if the two can be physical early and often. 

Cam Newton will be interviewed on WFNZ’s “The Drive” at 3 pm today. “The Drive” is a syndicated sports radio show on from 3 till 7 on weekdays. Newton will be interviewed at 3 and it will be replayed at 5. The Cam Newton interview will be live at 3 today, Feb 3^rd 2012.

Interesting to me is the fact that on Draft Day Marc “With a C” James told Cam Newton that the Panthers drafting him was a mistake. Marc James bought into the spread quarterbacks don’t make it in the NFL theory. Marc James and Taylor Zarzour host “The Drive” on WFNZ in Charlotte.

Marc James quickly changed his mind about Cam Newton and they often interviewed him on their show during the season. Marc James was the first local media member to interview Cam Newton after he was drafted and Newton seems to have a good relationship with the show. Listen to the interview here.

The future of the Carolina Panthers is looking pretty bright. Apparently owner Jerry Richardson knew what he was doing when he gutted the team in 2010. The Carolina Panthers were mired in meritocracy and fans were mad at Jerry Richardson.

What Jerry Richardson did was to prepare the Carolina Panthers for the NFL lockout and force a youth movement on the team. To keep from paying two coaching staffs Richardson let John Fox finish his contract rather than firing him.

The Jerry Richardson hired Ron Rivera and a good staff of assistant coaches for the Carolina Panthers. Knowing this is a quarterback driven game Jerry Richardson drafted Cam Newton when Andrew Luck opted out of the 2011 NFL draft.

Cam Newton of course proved Jerry Richardson right and had a hugely successful rookie season. The Carolina Panthers youth movement will really begin to pay off in 2012 and the team should be in the playoffs.

With the quick signing of Jeremy Shockey before the 2011 season Jerry Richardson showed he will sign checks for selected veteran free agents. Thus the fans who thought Jerry Richardson was going to be a cheap owner had to revise their thinking.

I really believe Jerry Richardson wants to win ball games and a Super Bowl ring. Richardson is the only NFL owner who was also a player and used to catch passes from Johnny Unitas. Pretty cool also that the Charlotte Bobcats are owned by a former NBA player, Michael Jordan as well.

With the ability of Cam Newton to attract free agents I expect Mr. Richardson to spend a little more this season. But I also expect the Panthers to continue the youth movement that will pay off. The Carolina Panthers can become competitive year in and year out if they play their cards right.

I just hope that the Panthers can resign Cam Newton and keep him in Carolina for his entire career. Jerry Richardson will find a way to do that and see his plan for the Panthers come to fruition.

The only mistake I think Jerry Richardson and the Panthers made recently was resigning DeAngelo Williams. Now I think Williams is talented and he forms a nice team wit Jonathan Stewart. However I think that NFL running backs are a dime a dozen and that money and cap space could have been spent better. But all in all I approve of Jerry Richardson’s plan for the Carolina Panthers.  

Cam Newton is going to the Pro Bowl! Newton will replace Eli Manning of the New York Giants at the annual NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Eli will be a little busy as he prepares for his Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Not only is it a feather in Cam Newton’s cap to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie it will help the Carolina Panthers. Profootballtalk.com suggests this will help the Panthers sign free agents who may meet Cam Newton at the Pro Bowl.

Cam Newton had a record setting rookie season for the Carolina Panthers despite being a somewhat controversial pick. Many Panthers fans wanted to wait and try to draft a quarterback in 2012. Some like me didn’t trust a spread offense quarterback to make the NFL transition. But others of course were racially motivated to pull against Cam Newton being a Carolina Panther.

Well I am glad to say I was wrong about the spread quarterback although the Panthers did use some of that offense this year. Clearly Cam Newton has the talent, desire, intelligence and work ethic to be a top NFL quarterback for years to come.

In Newton’s Pro Bowl rookie season he threw for 4,051 yards, 21 touchdown passes and only 17 interceptions. Newton also ran for 706 yards and an amazing 14 rushing touchdowns.

The NFL is more than happy that Cam Newton is going to the Pro Bowl. Since the Carolina Panthers were not seen in 2011 by most of the country fans now get a chance to see Cam Newton play. As a rising star in the NFL Cam Newton will draw fans to watch the Pro Bowl that may have not watched it otherwise.

Cam Newton joins wide receiver Steve Smith and center Ryan Kalil as Carolina Panthers playing in the Pro Bowl. While I still say linebacker James Anderson should have made the roster, I am happy that Cam Newton is replacing Eli Manning. You can bet we will see Cam Newton try to hit Steve Smith with a long pass in the Pro Bowl.

The first Pro Bowl is usually special for a player and I hope Cam Newton enjoys his time there. I also hope he lights up the AFC defense when he plays. Of course it isn’t a real game but with Cam Newton playing it should be entertaining this year.

This will hopefully shed some light on who the first round pick of the Carolina Panthers will be in the 2012 NFL draft. The Panthers will have the eighth or ninth pick depending on a coin toss with the Miami Dolphins.

This is not a 2012 Carolina Panthers mock draft, though I am working on one, but rather a look at the players who should be available to the Panthers with their first pick. I feel the biggest needs for the Carolina Panthers are defensive tackle and cornerback. I also feel wide receiver or offensive line could be addressed if the right player is available to them.

It is possible that the Carolina Panthers will trade down to get extra picks. For that to happen a player, probably a quarterback would have to fall to their spot. I am not sure there is a defensive tackle worth picking at eight or nine so I would not mind trading down.

If Morris Claiborne the LSU cornerback is on the board when the Panthers are up, then he is a no brainer. However I find it more likely he will be gone and the Panthers could draft Dre Kirkpatrick the tall corner from Alabama. Kirkpatrick has all the tools but you have to question his intelligence after a marijuana arrest recently.

The person I have in my mock as the Carolina Panthers first round pick in 2012 is Quinton Coples from UNC. Coples is an end and not a tackle but he would improve the Panthers defensive line from day one. Coples reminds people of Julius Peppers without the weird factor.

Defensive tackle Devon Still out of Penn State will probably be the Panthers pick if the draft strictly for need and go to that position. Still can disrupt the backfield but seldom gets to the passer. Still his job would be to tie up blockers to free the Carolina Panthers linebackers, and he can do that.

If wide receiver Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State falls to the Carolina Panthers then they will pick him quickly. Blackmon is the most talented wideout in the draft and a chance to team him with Cam Newton would make the Panthers forget their defense in the first round.

If you have any thoughts on who the Carolina Panthers will draft in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft, please leave a comment below. I would love to talk 2012 NFL draft with some Panthers fans.

This is my list of 2012 NFL free agents the Carolina Panthers should be looking at. Now I don’t expect the Carolina Panthers to spend a lot of money on 2012 free agents as they are committed to growing through the draft. But the Panthers will probably sign a few players to fill a need.

I feel that the Carolina Panthers 2012 needs are at defensive tackle, cornerback, wide receiver and offensive line in that order. So I took a look at 2012 NFL free agents at those positions that the Carolina Panthers may sign.

Defensive Tackle Free Agents

Antonio Garay- San Diego Chargers

Antonio Garay is a solid veteran defensive tackle whom Ron Rivera is familiar with. Garay can help stop the run and even gets the occasional quarterback sack.

‘Antonio Dixon- Philadelphia Eagles

Dixonis another solid defensive tackle who won’t break the bank if he is signed by the Carolina Panthers. Dixon will know this defense as he played under the Panther’s current defensive coordinator in Philly.

Fred Evans- Minnesota Vikings

Fred Evans has been a spot player for the Vikings who would do well in the rotation on the Carolina Panthers defensive line.

Cornerback Free Agents

Chris Gamble- Carolina Panthers

I think the Panthers may resign Gamble but he will command a large salary if they do. Chris Gamble has had his ups and downs in Carolina but had a solid season in 2011.

Donald Strickland New York Jets

Strickland is just a guy type of free agent that the Panthers target at times. Strickland has bounced around and played for Rivera in San Diego at one point.

Kelvin Hayden- Atlanta Falcons

Haden is a solid veteran player who is a good athlete and can score when he intercepts a ball. He played for the Colts for several seasons before joining the Falcons in 2011.

Aaron Ross- New York Giants                                                                                                                                                     Ross has been around a while and started off and on for the Giants during his career. Ross would be a solid pickup for the 2012 Carolina Panthers.

Wide Receiver Free Agents

Laurent Robinson- Dallas Cowboys

Robinson may desire more than the Carolina Panthers are willing to spend but he had an eye opening season and would be a great red zone target for Cam Newton.

Early Doucet- Arizona Cardinals

Early Doucet is a solid veteran wide receiver who wouldn’t command too much money. Doucet would be a nice fit with what the Panthers are trying to do on offense.

Vincent Jackson- San Diego Chargers

Jacksonwill probably be out of the Panther’s price range and his DUI baggage may not allowed him to be considered. ButJacksonknows Panthers coaches and is the tall wideout this offense usually calls for.

These are the 2012 NFL free agents I think the Carolina Panthers should consider signing. Please check back here soon for more news and opinion about the Carolina Panthers.