5 projected Carolina Panthers starters who could be benched in 2021
By Dean Jones
Cam Erving – Carolina Panthers OT
The Carolina Panthers could be playing with fire if they eventually decide to name Cam Erving as their starting left tackle. To say the former first-round pick has endured a difficult start to his NFL career would be a big understatement and this appears to be his final chance of proving his doubters wrong.
This has been a huge problem for the Panthers ever since Jordan Gross retired. Something that has really hampered them in recent seasons at arguably the second most important position on offense.
Had Penei Sewell fallen one more spot in the 2021 NFL Draft, we probably aren’t having this discussion.
And the Panthers might now be willing to give Erving the blindside job considering third-round selection Brady Christensen was graded higher as a guard by the organization during the evaluation process.
Erving has a lot to do in pursuit of convincing his skeptics that he can play at a high level. Some have already made up their minds that he isn’t what is required if Carolina wants to realistically enter the postseason discussion and the decision to give the player a two-year deal does seem like a baffling one in the current climate.
If Erving fails to meet expectations, it shouldn’t take the Panthers long to pull the plug.