5 free agents on offense for the Carolina Panthers’ wish list in 2022
By Dean Jones
Laken Tomlinson – OG
- 2021 team – San Francisco 49ers
As stated previously, the Carolina Panthers have some questions to answer across their protection outside of Taylor Moton, who remains the only real model of consistency in this area of the field.
Carolina did draft two promising young players in Deonte Brown and Brady Christensen to potentially become starters down the line. Although much will depend on how they progress their respective skills throughout the campaign.
If the Panthers feel like more is needed, then it might see the organization target a veteran presence who is guaranteed to improve matters.
Someone like Laken Tomlinson fits the bill in no uncertain terms.
The former first-round pick out of Duke is a commanding interior force who plays running or passing downs with equal effectiveness. Tomlinson turned out in 1,074 snaps for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, conceding three penalties and giving up two penalties en route to a 78.8 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Tomlinson is a prime candidate for the franchise tag, even though the Niners just paid Trent Williams supreme money and might not be willing to do the same with another lineman.
That should attract Carolina’s attention, who need to get better and quickly on the protection if they want to realistically enter the postseason picture sooner rather than later.