Panthers trade away Otah (Fails Physical), acquire Louis Murphy

[ThomasTomasz]

The Oakland Raiders announced they have traded speedy wide receiver Louis Murphy to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.

Murphy made an immediate impact as Oakland's fourth-round pick in 2009, catching 75 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in his first two seasons.

But Murphy was slowed by a groin injury last season and started only one game. He had 15 catches for 241 yards and became expendable when fifth-round pick Juron Criner and undrafted free agent Rod Streater passed him in offseason workouts.

He joins a Panthers offense that grew by leaps and bounds last season with rookie quarterback Cam Newton under center. After being ranked last in the league in points and yards in 2010, Carolina jumped to fifth and seventh, respectively, under the direction of the offensive rookie of the year.

The Raiders had plenty of depth at wideout, sporting Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford and former top-10 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey.

"Hate to see my bro @murph918 leave. Love you bro and good luck in your new beginning. U always a raider in my book bra.," Ford wrote of the deal on Twitter.

The teams made a previous trade this offseason with Oakland sending offensive lineman Bruce Campbell to Carolina for running back Mike Goodson.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8192530/oakland-raiders-trade-louis-murphy-carolina-panthers-pick

The New York Jets have acquired veteran offensive tackle Jeff Otah from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for an undisclosed conditional draft pick.

The teams announced the deal Monday.

The Jets have been looking to upgrade at right tackle after Wayne Hunter struggled in his first season as a starter. Otah will likely compete with Hunter to be New York's starting right tackle.

Otah, Carolina's first-round pick in 2008, has dealt with knee issues the last two years, playing in just four games since the end of the 2009 season.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/sto...na-panthers-traded-new-york-jets-draft-choice

 

[StealthShot]

Thank God Wayne Hunter is gone, even if Oath doesn't pan out it's well worth the risk.

Got to draft an OL early next draft.

 

[July 4 1776]

Good move for everyone involed, although im really surprised they didnt give otah one more shot

 

[Aso]

Good trade for the Raiders, in all likelihood Murphy wasnt gonna be higher than the 5th receiver so its nice to get any draft pick for that.

 

[EmpireWF]

Thank God Wayne Hunter is gone, even if Oath doesn't pan out it's well worth the risk.

Got to draft an OL early next draft.

Yeah, Hunter was awful. Playing strictly out of necessity.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I actually like Otah.

 

[Raidersabc123]

ill miss that I cant say get murphed anymore...
He was great his rookie year but never built from it. I will always remember that crazy game he won us in Pittsburgh hope he has success in carolina.

 

[Trmszczykowski]

Jeff Otah is a great talent. His one healthy season the Panthers had both of their RBs eclipse 1000 yards. It sucks that Otah is gone, but dude could not stay on the field. Another long year with Byron Bell.

 

[TheImmortalGoud]

Rotoworld

New Jets OT Jeff Otah failed his physical to open training camp and was placed on active/PUP.

Otah is presumably still not fully healed from last year's knee injury, and he also has a bad history when it comes to his back. It's fair to wonder if he might be damaged goods. Otah will be eligible to practice when/if he gets healthy.

 

[Tailback U]

Rotoworld

So the trade went through despite Otah not passing a physical?

Doesn't that usually nullify most trades?

 

[TheImmortalGoud]

So the trade went through despite Otah not passing a physical?

Doesn't that usually nullify most trades?

Not always. If the teams don't include a provision that the trade is contingent on both players passing a physical, then they don't have to.

 

[TheImmortalGoud]

It's looking like Otah could be heading back to Carolina.

Rotoworld

A league source tells Profootballtalk.com that Jeff Otah (knee, back) will be sent back to the Panthers if he doesn't pass his Jets physical within a week.

Otah was placed on active/PUP Wednesday after failing his initial physical. Per PFT's Darin Gantt, the Jets-Panthers trade was contingent on Otah passing a physical "in the next seven days, or else he goes back to Carolina." The Jets would then get back their conditional seventh-round pick. If Otah was returned to Carolina, GM Marty Hurney would likely look either to trade him again, or cut him.