New York Jets acquire offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Carolina Panthers – NFL News
Carolina Panthers traded their offensive tackle Jeff Otah to New York Jets in exchange of a conditional seventh-round pick on Monday, July 23, 2012.
Otah was drafted by Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2008 draft. He had an injury-plagued career with Panthers and was able to play just 29 games for them in four years.
He got an injury to his left knee before the start of the 2010 season and was forced out of the entire season.
He played just four out of last 35 games played by Panthers. All those four games were played in the 2011 season, before his knee got hurt again.
He was put on injured reserves list in October last year. Otah is due to earn $1.1 million for the final year of his rookie contract.
Otah will compete for the starting place with Wayne Hunter, who had a disastrous 2011 campaign after playing full season as a starter.
Hunter’s last season record gives a diminishing picture. He gave away 8.5 sacks. He also allowed the highest number of penalties among the Jets’ players with a total of 11 penalties.
Jets have shown no sign of leaving Hunter, who has a $2.45 million salary cap, all of which is guaranteed. Yet, they have previously signalled that he would compete with rookie Robert T. Griffin.
Jets offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo previously came out and supported Hunter for the starting position. He said:
"This guy is the starting right tackle. Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle. And he's going to play well."
Otah’s exit means that the fight for Panthers starting offensive tackle position will be between Byron Bell and Bruce Campbell.
Bell played 12 games last season in Otah’s absence. He gave good performances here and there. On the other hand, Campbell has joined the team this offseason.
Otah is a big guy with 6 foot 6 inch and 340 pounds. Yet it will be interesting to see how healthy he is to compete for the starting place.
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