5 potential Pac-12 opt-outs on Carolina Panthers’ radar in 2021

Carolina Panthers Player No. 3: Penei Sewell (OT) – Oregon

One player that a potential opt-out of Pac-12 players will not impact whatsoever is Penei Sewell. The Oregon stud has the potential to be the best offensive tackle to enter the league in a generation. And he is going to be one of the first names taken in the 2021 NFL Draft without question.

There is nothing Sewell cannot do on the football field from a protection point of view. He plays nasty in the run game to leave opposing defensive linemen trailing in his wake. And the lanes he creates for running backs is a prominent feature of the player’s overall influence.

Sewell’s exceptional length makes him a commanding presence in passing situations. This is something that aided No. 6 overall pick, Justin Herbert, considerably during his final college campaign. And it appears that there is plenty more to come from the player given his body type and relative lack of experience.

The ceiling could not be higher regarding Sewell. So opting out before the draft process might be the wisest move for a player of his caliber. If things went badly wrong from a health perspective on the field, then it could cost him millions.

This is a gamble that Sewell and others won’t be willing to take unless their demands are met. Their statement has put the onus squarely on their shoulders of Pac-12 officials. And they are the ones who stand to lose a substantial amount if no football is played in 2020.