5 prospects Panthers should watch closely at Oregon’s pro day
By Dean Jones
Penei Sewell – OT
One can make an argument for Penei Sewell being the best player entering the NFL this year from the college system. Oregon’s stud offensive tackle has all the makings of an All-Pro at the next level and even though he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 health concerns, this should not put any team off from taking him in the coming weeks.
The notion of Sewell falling to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8 overall seemed impossible once upon a time. However, with the recent moves made regarding some of the top quarterback prospects, there is now an outside chance of this eventuality playing out.
Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson will go in the first two selections, and the San Francisco 49ers have already declared their intentions after trading up to No. 3. Much will depend on whether the Atlanta Falcons or the Cincinnati Bengals find a trade partner for somebody like Trey Lance. But Sewell would be a hard prospect to pass up for any team in the 5-7 range.
Simply put, Sewell is a once-in-a-generation talent at left tackle. He is a human wrecking ball either in pass protection or against the run and has the sort of technique that has been NFL-ready for some time.
If the Panthers get the chance to select Sewell if they don’t move up, it would be a dream come true. A lot needs to go their way for this to happen, but with Rashawn Slater’s stock also rising, it is not out of the realm of possibility.