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Panthers GM says team struck 'gold' in Ealy trade

Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers' general manager has no regrets about trading defensive end Kony Ealy and the club's third-round draft pick to the New England Patriots for their second-round pick.

By acquiring the 64th overall selection for the 72nd pick, Dave Gettleman believes his team came out ahead in the transaction.

"It's a heavy draft and it was an opportunity for us to move up. To you guys, eight spots doesn't seem like much. But to me, it's gold," Gettleman said Friday, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

"You've got to give up something to get something. You're not fooling anybody anymore. There's too much film available. We just wanted to move up and get another second-round pick. I think it gives us more flexibility."

Ealy was a former second-round selection of the Panthers. He's played with the club for the past three years and has recorded seasons of four, five, and five sacks. He likely would have been named Super Bowl 50 MVP had the Panthers won the game after he produced an electric four-tackle, three-sack, one-interception performance.

The Panthers are a team to watch in April's draft, as they own three picks in the first 64 selections.

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