What can Falcons learn from how Panthers were built?

Jonathan Stewart, RB, 2007 draft (first round)

Cam Newton, QB, 2011 draft (first overall)

Greg Olsen, TE, 2011 (trade with Bears for a third-round pick)

Luke Kuechly, LB, 2012 draft (first round)

Josh Norman, CB, 2012 draft (fifth round)

Mike Tolbert, RB, 2012 (free-agent signee)

Kawann Short, DT, 2013 (second round)

Trai Turner, OG, 2014 (third round)

The Carolina Panthers ran away from the pack in the NFC South to win their unprecedented third consecutive division title.

After years of the title flipping hands, the Panthers have become the division’s first dominant team since the NFC South was formed in 2002.

After two consecutive losing seasons and a 7-7 record after 14 games, the Falcons are at a crossroads and are seven-point underdogs against the undefeated Panthers (14-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

The talent levels of the two teams was obvious when the Panthers put a 38-0 spanking on the Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 13.

The Panthers are playing to earn the No. 1 seed for the playoffs. The Falcons, after winning their first give games, are trying to cobble together a 9-7 record and hope that’s sufficient to make the playoffs.

Whether embattled general manager Thomas Dimitroff stays, the Falcons must upgrade their drafting and free-agency acquisitions.

What can the Falcons learn from how general managers Marty Hurney, who was dismissed in 2012, and Dave Gettleman turned the Panthers into a powerhouse?

“The main thing was that when we got here, there was a decent foundation,” said Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who was hired in 2011. “There really was. Marty Hurney and his staff of guys before me did a really nice job.”

The Panthers already had linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive end Charles Johnson as potential cornerstones on defense. Running back Jonathan Stewart was on the roster, and tight end Greg Olsen was acquired for a third-round pick in July 2011.

In the 2011 draft, Hurney chose quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick. In 2012, Hurney’s final draft with the franchise, he chose linebacker Luke Kuechly with the ninth pick and cornerback Josh Norman in the fifth round.

Of course picking Newton, who played at Westlake High and Auburn, was the key move. If a team doesn’t successfully choose a quarterback, they’ll be running in circles for years, a la the Cleveland Browns. The Falcons believe they have their quarterback in Matt Ryan, who was selected third overall in 2008 by Dimitroff. But Ryan turned 30 this season and appeared to regress in the new offense.

After some initial concerns about his sulking on the sidelines and after games, the Panthers are terribly pleased with Newton.

“He’s grown so much,” Rivera said. “This young man is committed to being one of the best.”

Kuechly, Davis and Norman are among the 10 Panthers named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. The Falcons had two Pro Bowlers: wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman.

Hurney was dismissed after the Panthers finished 6-10 and 7-9, in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Gettleman, a no-nonsense personnel man was hired from the New York Giants in January 2013.

“Dave was able to come in without having to worry about any favoritism or any strong feelings about anybody,” Rivera said. “Over the two-year period, he was able to evaluate without looking through rose-colored glasses.”

Gettleman had to make some tough decisions, such as releasing wide receiver Steve Smith, a fan favorite, and defensive end Greg Hardy, who was drafted by Hurney in the sixth round of 2010. Hardy’s nasty domestic-violence case was too much for the franchise to stomach. The team also elected not to re-sign running back DeAngelo Williams after last season.

Because Gettleman had no ties to the roster, the Panthers were able to make those difficult decisions. Smith’s release was particularly messy.

“As we decided to pick and choose and decide, we were able to move on in a couple of cases,” Rivera said.

While cutting ties with some players, the Panthers stockpiled more talent.

In 2013, the Panthers drafted their starting defensive tackles, Star Lotulelei (first round) and Kawann Short (second round). Short leads the Panthers in sacks with nine and is headed to his first Pro Bowl.

In 2014, the Panthers added wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (first round), defensive end Kony Ealy (second) and right guard Trai Turner (third). Benjamin has been on injured reserve since before this season began, but had a strong rookie season. Turner is headed to the Pro Bowl, too.

The Panthers also appear to have picked a winner in starting linebacker Shaq Thompson, the team’s first-round pick this year.

“We stuck true to what we talked about, find your quarterback, protect him and put playmakers around him,” Rivera said. “Then on defense, stick to what we believe is building a core. We were after specific positions to build our core.”

The Panthers enjoyed watching the Pro Bowl selection show.

“My favorite was the opportunity tell Thomas Davis that he was going to the Pro Bowl,” Rivera said of the former Georgia Bulldogs standout. “Here’s a guy that for his entire career, he played at such a high level, to finally be recognized was really a big thrill.”

In addition to Davis, Newton, Short, Norman, Kuechly, Stewart, Olsen and Turner, center Ryan Kalil, who was drafted by Hurney in the second round of the 2008 draft, and fullback Mike Tolbert, of Douglasville, who was a free-agent signee in 2012, are Hawaii-bound.

“It does signify how we’ve been built,” Rivera said. “Guys that were here before us, guys that we had to bring along and guys that we drafted recently. I think that’s a neat thing.”

Quinn, who came from Seattle after two trips to the Super Bowl, believes there are some things the Falcons can take from the Panthers.

“Establishing roles on your team, much like we are trying to do in the same fashion, (they have) guys who can do some unique things,” Quinn said. “Like where Ted (Ginn) came in and started off as returner and then it (expanded) into a bigger role (at receiver) with 10 touchdown catches. Sometimes, when a guy gets a role and goes every farther with it, that’s a big factor.”