Carolina Panthers should have drafted a franchise LT
Terrace Marshall Jr. has flashed and looks like a wide receiver who could be productive with further development. But the decision to select him at No. 59 overall rather than go with a potential franchise left tackle looks like a strange one right now.
Whether it was the Carolina Panthers getting wind of the New Orleans Saints‘ interest in the LSU product that led to this pick is irrelevant. They missed the chance to take advantage of an extremely deep class of edge protectors in the first two rounds and it’s costing them.
As stated previously, their faith in Cam Erving is and was misguided. And things are hanging in the balance with Brady Christensen and Deonte Brown – two linemen who were taken by the Panthers and have done virtually nothing in 2021.
Getting productive wide receivers further down the draft is a lot easiest than starting players for the protection. Considering the problems Carolina is constantly having in this critical area, it might have been wise for them to address this sooner in hindsight.
That’s a mistake they cannot make again next spring.
The Panthers don’t have a Day 2 pick currently, so even though Sam Darnold hasn’t really convinced anybody he is the long-term answer under center, this is another strong crop of offensive linemen at the top end and something Carolina has to take advantage of this time around.
Otherwise, the consequences will be severe and nothing will change.