With the 19th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh. The Panthers re-signed offensive linemen Travelle Wharton and Jordan Gross during the offseason. The team plans on moving Wharton to left guard after being the team's left tackle last season, but they'd still like to keep Gross at his natural position of right tackle (although it could go vice-versa, with Gross to LT and the draft pick to RT).

That left a void at left or right tackle, and thus, the reason behind moving up and selecting Otah.