Carolina Panthers playing Cam Erving at LT is a recipe for disaster

The Carolina Panthers are thinking of going with Cam Erving as their starting left tackle in 2021, which has the potential to be an absolute disaster.

There is a concerning situation developing at left tackle for the Carolina Panthers. One could argue this is nothing new ever since Jordan Gross retired after the 2013 season.

They decided to let Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner Russell Okung leave in free agency just one season after he was acquired via trade from the Los Angeles Chargers. Appearing in seven games due to injury made the decision an easy one, but that does not detract from the big question surrounding just who is going to fill the void next time around.

The Panthers didn’t do much to strengthen this vital area of the field in free agency and even though they traded up in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft to select Brady Christensen out of BYU, the prospect had a higher grade at guard than protecting the edge.

That might leave Cam Erving as the potential front-runner for the role.

Which could be nothing short of a disaster.

Speaking to the media this week, Erving stated he’s been working at left tackle during the early part of the offseason period and expects to be leading the charge in Week 1 against the New York Jets.

However, considering his level of production from the blindside throughout his career so far, feeling a sense of dread is more than warranted.

Cam Erving needs to finally prove his worth on the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

Erving was statistically one of the league’s worst pass protectors from the left-hand side whenever he’s lined up there. The Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs could tell you that.

His level of performance improved slightly when Erving switched to the interior, although it wasn’t enough to earn a new deal with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.

If Matt Rhule and his coaching staff opt to give Erving the starting job, it’s a massive gamble that will have huge ramifications if it doesn’t pay off.

Most notably, for quarterback Sam Darnold.

His time on the New York Jets was blighted by a distinct lack of protection. If the same happens again this time around, don’t expect to see him seize what appears to be a fantastic opportunity to turn his career around.

If Darnold cannot stay upright and get enough time to go through his progressions, everybody else will inevitably suffer.

Maybe it’s worrying over nothing.

But there isn’t much evidence to suggest Erving can become a long-term solution to this ongoing problem.

Had Penei Sewell dropped one more spot past the Detroit Lions in the draft, it would have been a hard pass for Carolina. Although stud cornerback Jaycee Horn isn’t a bad consolation prize.

They’ll have to make do with Erving or someone else for now. Greg Little appears out of favor and if Christensen is used on the interior, it’s a precarious situation for the team to be in and one that won’t go unnoticed by opposing defensive schemes.

Teams now know how special Taylor Moton is at right tackle. Any half-decent defensive coordinator will send overload blitzes in Erving’s direction if they had any sense, so it’s something worth monitoring as the season goes on.

This is Erving’s last chance to prove he isn’t another first-round draft bust. The rise in production needs to be steep. Whether he is capable of this is another matter entirely.