Could Panthers OT Brady Christensen hold key to Zach Wilson’s demise?

Could Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Brady Christensen hold the key to Zach Wilson’s demise during the team’s Week 1 game against the New York Jets?

It might be worth the Carolina Panthers getting some serious input from rookie Brady Christensen ahead of their opening regular-season game against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. This is, of course, because his formal debut will see the offensive lineman square-off with a player who he was tasked with protecting during his last meaningful taste of competitive action in college.

Christensen was drafted in the third round out of BYU – a program that celebrated one of the top prospects taken in 2021 when Zach Wilson ended up being the No. 2 overall selection.

Wilson and the Panthers will be connected all season after the trade for Sam Darnold. But the presence of Christensen on the roster also comes with a significant amount of intrigue.

There is just no telling what secrets the first-year-pro knows about his former signal-caller. Wilson and Christensen developed a close relationship in college – the bond between a quarterback and the man stabilizing his blindside is a vital one, after all.

When NFL scouts ran the rule over Wilson’s film during the evaluation process, one of the real things that stood out was just how much time the signal-caller was getting in the pocket.

Although the standard of competition wasn’t exactly elite, Christensen’s flawless performances saw him given the highest-ever grade for an offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus in 2020 with an astonishing 96.0.

Concerns about Christensen’s arm length saw him slide before Carolina moved up to acquire him at No. 70 overall. It appears as if the Panthers are planning on moving forward with him on the right – starting with a key rotational role before eventually becoming a starter in the not-too-distant future.

Carolina Panthers should seek Brady Christensen’s input ahead of Week 1.

Christensen left a positive mark in warmup games. And even though the Panthers have their own scout team with thoughts on how to counteract Wilson’s threat, the opinion of someone who worked alongside him should also be sought.

There is no room for friendships getting in the way at the next level. If Christensen feels like some information could help Carolina gets their season off on the right foot, he should open his mouth.

Wilson has all the traits of a superstar. Even if there might be a few bumps in the road during his rookie season after a substantial rebuild at MetLife Stadium following the appointment of head coach Robert Saleh.

As for Christensen, it remains to be seen just how much he’ll be on the field. The Panthers appear willing to go with their veterans with lots to prove in Week 1, so how they perform will ultimately determine just when the rookie gets his shot at locking down a starting role.

Until that time comes, Christensen has to continue improving and help the team any way he can. As it just so happens, his knowledge of Wilson’s characteristics might be extremely helpful.

It will take much more than Christensen’s opinion to stop Wilson. But the Panthers have a talented young defense capable of giving the rookie phenom a warm welcome to the NFL.