4 first-round prospects who would help Panthers QB Sam Darnold most
By Dean Jones
Penei Sewell – OT (Oregon)
Much like the situation with Kyle Pitts, it would be a huge surprise if Penei Sewell was still on the board at No. 8 overall. Oregon’s imposing left tackle has the potential to be the best edge protector entering the league in a decade and if the Carolina Panthers were fortunate enough to acquire his services, they should not hesitate for a second.
Sewell has been working hard during his time away from the game after opting out in 2020, which was reflected with an outstanding pro day that only heightened excitement about his impending arrival to the NFL. The lineman has been training at left and right tackle to improve versatility, with his incredible frame and relentless motor also fitting in well at guard later on in his career.
As the old saying goes – first you buy the house and then you sort out the insurance.
The Panthers got their hands on Sam Darnold. So now they need to focus their attention on getting a productive blindside presence that can give the quarterback enough time to go through his progressions.
Must Read. Projecting which positions the Carolina Panthers will draft in each round. light
The prospect would be hard to pass up for the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions, who hold the three selections before Carolina is on the clock. At least from the outside looking in, this is the dream scenario for the Panthers and the best thing about Sewell is nobody actually knows how high his ceiling is at just 20 years old.