NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been a whirlwind 12 hours for Tennessee defensive back Rashaan Gaulden after he was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 85 pick in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Gaulden, who is the highest drafted Vol DB since Eric Berry went No. 5 overall in 2010, was watching his hometown Nashville Predators playoff game on Friday night when he received the call from the Panthers.
“When I got the call I was in my room,” Gaulden said before boarding his flight to Charlotte on Saturday morning. “I was watching the Predators game and flipping back and forth between the ‘Preds’ and the Cavs game. I saw the 704 area code pop up on my phone and I thought ‘this is the Panthers.’
“I went downstairs and told my family about it. I talked to the coaches. They gave me a plan. I’m very excited.”
Gaulden will tour the Panthers’ facilities and be introduced by the team later on Saturday. He spent most the week in Dallas for the NFLPA Rookie Debut event before flying back to Nashville to spend the draft with his family.
Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Gaulden will compete at safety for the NFL squad. The versatile defensive back played nickel back and cornerback in addition to safety during his career at Tennessee.
“I think Carolina is the best fit for me,” Gaulden said. “They will utilize my skillset in the best way possible. I’m just excited to get up there.”
Gaulden said he was “calm” heading into the draft and he kept his cool on Friday by watching sports and waiting for a call he was expecting to get.
“I was definitely expecting to get picked on Friday night,” he said. “It just depended on where. In recent interviews I had said I wasn’t going to pay too much attention to the draft, but I would have my phone on me.”
Gaulden is also excited to reunite with former Tennessee defensive line coach and interim head coach Brady Hoke, who is now the defensive line coach for the Panthers.
“I have a really good relationship with Coach Hoke, who was our defensive line coach,” Gaulden said. “Having him on staff makes me feel very comfortable as well as the other great coaches they have around there and the players. I was very excited to receive the call from them.
“Carolina is an awesome team in a great city.”
Known to be the ultimate competitor among his teammates on Rocky Top, Gaulden can’t wait to start his professional career.
“It’s been wild,” Gaulden said as he boarded the plane headed for his new employer. “I have been taking it one step and a time. God makes no mistakes. I’m very fortunate to be in this position.”
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