6 offensive guards the Carolina Panthers could draft in 2020
By Dean Jones
Shane Lemieux – (Oregon)
Former Oregon standout Shane Lemieux is predicted to be a riser on 2020 NFL draft boards thanks to his size and burst.
Lemieux’s powerful hands make him a good run blocker that should open up space for star running back Christian McCaffrey should he end up on the Carolina Panthers’ roster.
One area where Lemieux does struggle though is when he is isolated against pass rushers, especially in 3rd-and-long situations and against blitzes. But his characteristics make him easy to coach up providing his footwork shows improvement during the next stage of his development.
Another thing that might put the Panthers off from drafting Lemieux is his inability to block well in space. He is ideally more suited to a downhill running attack and given their creativity with McCaffrey on the outside, the player might find it a struggle early on.
Lemieux has good athleticism for someone listed at 6-foot-4 and 316 pounds. But his overall movement will need improving as his flexibility is something that lets him down on occasions.
That being said, the player is hugely experienced and possesses a high football IQ. This makes him very coachable at the NFL level and he is definitely worth serious consideration anywhere from round three onwards.
Whether the Panthers will be in a position to go offensive guard with so many pressing needs on defense remains to be seen.