In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers had hoped that they would be able to find a potential starting free safety. Unfortunately, by the time the Draft ended, the Panthers were not able to come away with one - Leading to a certain level of indignation among fans who had hoped the Panthers would find someone to replace Mike Adams and pair with Eric Reid.

But speaking on WFNZ's The Mac Attack Friday morning, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney brought up a player that has gotten somewhat lost in the shuffle in the narrative that the Panthers need a safety: 2018 third-round pick Rashaan Gaulden.

"I think the guy everybody is forgetting is Rashaan Gaulden," said Hurney. "This is the time of year we love to focus on the 2019 Draft. All the hype, everybody gets excited about it. I do too, everybody does. The guys who are really gonna help us and that we're counting on (are) those guys from the 2018 Draft that have had a year to develop."

Like his fellow classmates from the Panthers' 2018 Draft, such as wide receiver D.J. Moore and cornerback Donte Jackson, Gaulden will be looked upon to serve in a larger role after playing mostly on special teams in his rookie year. Though there has been some talk throughout the offseason of Gaulden potentially getting a significant look at nickel cornerback, Hurney espoused Gaulden's potential at the free safety position - Particularly given the extended playing time he received in the Panthers' season finale against the New Orleans Saints last year.

"I think that Rashaan Gaulden has the skillset to compete as our starting free safety. He's very athletic," said Hurney. "We knew he was gonna be a (project) when we drafted him in the third round because he played mostly nickel at Tennessee. But you look at that New Orleans game, he flashed. He did some good things. I think we feel good about him."

But although Gaulden is likely to factor into the Panthers' plans at the safety position, Hurney stated that the Panthers will "always" be looking for players for can help them. After all, they don't play a game until August.

"We're always gonna be looking at all avenues to try to get players that can help us," said Hurney. "But I do think that we have some guys there that will compete, and we will always add a player if the right guy comes up if we think he can help us at a position."

Within the Panthers' building, it does indeed sound as though Gaulden will be given the opportunity to play a major part in the defensive backfield. In his Grill Bill column, Bill Voth of the Panthers stated that the team staff was "extremely pleased" with how Gaulden returned for offseason workouts, and that he is doing what he can in order to make his case for a starting spot at safety.