CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Don’t necessarily look for the Carolina Panthers to select a cornerback in the first round of the April 28-30 draft just because they moved on from Josh Norman.

Listening to general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Ron Rivera talk about the decision to rescind the franchise tag on the 2015 Pro Bowl selection it didn’t sound like they were overly concerned with replacing him.

Much less use the 30th pick to do that.

“It does create a little hole,’’ Rivera said on Thursday.

Little seems like an understatement for a player Carolina was willing to pay $13.952 million when they put the tag on him last month.

But it does indicate where Carolina’s mindset is regarding a cornerback versus a defensive end or tackle when it comes to salary and the draft.

The Panthers have won the NFC South three straight years without paying big money or investing a high draft pick on a cornerback or safety. They went to the Super Bowl last season with Norman the highest-paid corner at around $1.5 million.

That’s because Gettleman believes you win with big men – “hog mollies’’ as he calls them – a philosophy he got from former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin.

“Big men allow you to compete’’ Gettleman said. “I'm a firm believer in it.’’

He went on to note that Carolina led the league in sacks with 60 in 2013 and had 44 last season, 42 of those coming from the front seven.

“It makes people on the back end better,’’ Gettleman said of pressure with the front seven. “Trust me, it does.’’

That this draft is particularly deep in big men will make it tough for Gettleman to pass one up, whether it’s on the offensive or defensive front.

Gettleman reminded the only reach he has made in his three previous drafts came in 2013 when he selected guard Edmund Kugbila in the fourth round despite having a higher grade on linebacker A.J. Klein.

Kugbila is a free agent after two injury-plagued years with Carolina. Klein, selected in the fifth round, has been a key player on special teams and as a starter when called upon.

“I couldn’t help my hog molly self and I just thought Edmund would be a great fit for us,’’ Gettleman said. “So we bypassed A.J. and thank God I was prevented from looking stupid and he was there in the fifth.’’

Gettleman’s point? He’ll take the best player available not only in the first round, but every round.

And if it’s close he’ll go with a “hog molly’’ versus another position.

That doesn’t mean Gettleman wouldn’t use the 30th pick on a cornerback. He said this is “nice group’’ of corners this year.

But he almost drooled when talking about the big men available -- on both sides of the ball. He specifically noted he has four offensive linemen with a first-round grade.

He named two, Alabama center Ryan Kelly and Stanford guard Joshua Garnett.

“Big hog molly ... Joshua Garnett,’’ Gettleman said. “He’s a big, powerful man there. ... And defensively, it’s a really nice group. If you need hog molly help, you’re not mad about this draft.’’

Gettleman didn’t rule out trading out of the first round. But he admitted it’s tough to consider that because first-round picks have a fifth-round option on their contracts, so teams can keep them longer for a lower salary.

The Panthers have exercised the fifth-year option three straight years -- on quarterback Cam Newton, linebacker Luke Kuechly and defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.

“It’s hard to pass that up,’’ Gettleman said. “It really is.’’

That’s about as revealing as Gettleman got about replacing Norman and his draft strategy, which is no different than his previous draft plans.

“I’m an open book,’’ Gettleman said of his best-player-available philosophy. “No magic here. There’s no pixie dust.’’