The Carolina Panthers reached a contract agreement early Friday night with offensive tackle Jeff Otah, one of their two first-round draft picks, and were continuing negotiations into the evening with running back Jonathan Stewart.

Coach John Fox described both as "integral" parts of the team's plans for the coming season and that he hoped to have both signed and ready to participate in today's opening training camp practices.

Carolina picked Stewart with the 13th selection of the first round, then swung a trade that included giving away a 2009 first-round choice to Philadelphia in order to land Otah with the 19th pick.

Terms of Otah's new contract deal weren't immediately available.

Otah (6 feet 6, 330 pounds) is expected to add a mauling presence to the right side of the offensive line. He is first on the depth chart at right tackle after being credited with 192 knockdown blocks in two college seasons at Pittsburgh, include 26 that led to touchdowns.

Stewart (5-10, 235) gives the Panthers the power back they've lacked since Stephen Davis' heyday. Stewart combines size with sub-4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash. He rushed for 1,722 yards, 11 TDs and a 6.2 yards-per-carry average last season.

Stewart also figures into the Panthers' plans as a kickoff returner. He had a career average of 28.69 yards per return at Oregon, a school record.

About two hours before Otah's contract terms were reached, coach John Fox said he was hopeful that both first-round picks would be in camp today.

"There's progress," he said. "I think it's fairly close.

"Hopefully, we'll find something out either later tonight or first thing tomorrow."

Fox said he is confident Stewart has fully recovered from offseason toe surgery, which kept him out of the team's May and June practice sessions.

"When he was still (in Charlotte) doing the rehab as early as a couple of weeks ago, our medical people felt very good about where he was," said Fox. "Until he signs, we can't really give him a physical."

DELHOMME READY FOR CAMP: Summer vacation ends today for the Panthers, who begin training camp at Wofford. That's not a moment to soon for quarterback Jake Delhomme.

Delhomme's season ended after three games in 2007, short-circuited by an elbow injury that eventually resulted in a surgical reconstruction.

"I've been on vacation since late September," Delhomme said while standing in front of the team's dormitory on Wofford's campus. "Let's get one thing straight: I've had a long vacation."

Delhomme's absence was a key factor in what became a disappointing Panthers season. They slipped to 7-9 and missed the playoffs for a second straight season after advancing to the NFC Championship Game in 2005.

"Sitting out last year, I think it did wonders for me," Delhomme said. "To kind of sit back and realize how much I do really and truly love this game. Because '06 was such a grind, and it wasn't fun."

(Staff writer David Scott contributed to this article.)

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