Georgia running back Todd Gurley has a visit set this week with the Carolina Panthers.
Georgia held its pro day on Wednesday, and Gurley told reporters he would be visiting the Panthers, who recently released running back DeAngelo Williams. The Panthers still have Jonathan Stewart, but he is on the downside of his career and adding a young back would make sense for the Panthers.
The question is whether Gurley, who despite coming off an ACL injury is considered the best running back available, would be the best available pick for the Panthers, who select 25th in the first round. Carolina needs a tackle to shore up the offensive line, and adding a wide receiver to team with Kelvin Benjamin also makes sense.
Gurley visited the Detroit Lions, who pick 23rd, on Monday.
All six NFL Media analysts who have done mock drafts -- Brian Baldinger, Bucky Brooks, Charley Casserly, Charles Davis, Daniel Jeremiah and Lance Zierlein -- have Gurley going in the first round; Brooks, Davis and Zierlein have Gurley being available when Carolina picks 25th.
Gurley is from Tarboro, N.C., which is about 240 miles northeast of Charlotte.
Carolina also reportedly will meet with Indiana running back Tevin Coleman. Coleman seems a likely second-round pick, and it seems to make more sense for the Panthers to focus on another position in the first round and try to grab a back in the second or third round.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
