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CHARLOTTE (AP) — The lights will be on in the Carolina Panthers' war room on Thursday night. The seats will be filled, the phones will be in use and the draft board will get tweaked.

But they probably won't get to participate in the NFL draft until a day later.

Despite their history of bold, draft-day deals, general manager Marty Hurney doesn't expect the Panthers to trade into the first round this year.

"You never know, but I'd say it's probably unlikely," Hurney said Tuesday. "It would probably be very hard to do. I don't think you ever want to cross anything off, but obviously I think it would be hard."

The Panthers dealt this year's first-round pick to San Francisco a year ago to take defensive end Everette Brown in the second round. The Panthers traded a future first-round pick in 2008, too, to get another first so they could take starting right tackle Jeff Otah.

With urgent holes at defensive end and receiver, the Panthers would seemingly want a first-round pick to get an immediate impact player. But with a draft Hurney says is deep in the first three rounds, Carolina isn't interested in surrendering numerous late-round picks to move up.

If they stand pat, the Panthers wouldn't choose until the second round and 48th overall on Friday night. Carolina also has a third-round selection on the second day.

The final four rounds are Saturday, with the Panthers holding six picks.

"I think you'd like as many picks as you can have," Hurney said. "We're always open-minded to anything, but I think it's going to be hard to give up draft picks."

The draft comes amid uncertainty with the Panthers, who have spent the offseason shedding veterans while coach John Fox prepares to enter the final year of his contract.

Hurney's contract also is scheduled to run out in June, but he appears safe. Hurney replied "I'm good" when asked about his future but declined to say if he has been offered or signed an extension.

"I figure if I do my job I'll be here and if I don't I won't," Hurney said. "I've never been one to worry about that stuff. I'm more worried about who we get in the second round."

Hurney is also trying to get his restricted free agents under contract. Linebacker Thomas Davis and cornerback Richard Marshall are the final two who haven't signed their tenders, he said.

Marshall, who received only the second-round tender worth $1.759 million, hasn't participated in the team's offseason conditioning program.

When asked if Marshall would attend next week's minicamp, Hurney replied "I'm assuming so." Marshall wouldn't be required to participate and couldn't be fined if he hasn't signed his one-year deal.

But the priority for Hurney now is filling holes in the draft. Defensive end Julius Peppers' departure in free agency leaves a pass-rushing void. Carolina also has no backup to new starting quarterback Matt Moore and no clear No. 2 receiver after Steve Smith.

The Panthers have declined to make major moves in free agency to address those issues. Hurney also said they've had no trade discussions with Washington about quarterback Jason Campbell, whose future is uncertain after the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb.

Hurney also shot down a report linking them to New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and said Carolina never got involved in trade discussions involving receivers Brandon Marshall and Anquan Boldin. Marshall was traded from Denver to Miami, and Boldin was dealt from Arizona to Baltimore.

"Our philosophy all along has been to build through the draft," Hurney said. "I think we're counting on a lot of young guys we've drafted in recent years to step up and fill roles."