Carolina Panthers linked to home state stud in recent 2022 mock draft

The Carolina Panthers are projected to take a home state stud to boost their offensive line in a recent 2022 NFL mock draft.

It’s almost time for the Carolina Panthers and others across the league to start planning for the 2022 offseason. That might sound a little strange with six games remaining of the current campaign, but NFL teams and scouts are already well into the process when it comes to identifying targets that could potentially strengthen their roster from the college ranks.

The Panthers don’t have a Day 2 pick to speak of following trades for Sam Darnold and C.J. Henderson from the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars respectively. This makes them a prime trade-down candidate as general manager Scott Fitterer looks to get back some draft capital after moving up and down the board plenty this spring.

However, if they don’t find a willing suitor, then they have to get their first-round selection right.

There appears some doubt as to which way Carolina’s going to go with this year’s first-rounder. Now Cam Newton is back in the fold, it might be wise for the Panthers to avoid reaching for a future signal-caller and waiting until 2023, which is expected to be a much stronger group at the position.

If this is a route Carolina goes down, bolstering the offensive line is a top priority if they want to put Newton in the best possible position to succeed. As luck would have it, this is yet another outstanding class of edge and interior protectors.

Carolina Panthers select Ikem Ekwonu in a recent 2022 NFL mock draft.

Pro Football Network’s latest mock draft has the Panthers selecting Ikem Ekwonu – an imposing offensive lineman not too far from home at North Carolina State.

One of the fastest risers up draft boards in 2021, writer Ian Cummings claimed the versatile player could be the answer to Carolina’s prayers at the left tackle spot. An area that’s sorely missed consistent production ever since Jordan Gross retired.

"“Ikem Ekwonu is one of the fastest-rising blockers on the 2022 NFL Draft circuit. Here at PFN, we’ve always been fans of his athletic profile, his length, and his relentless mauler mentality. But he’s taken strides with his hand usage this year and has officially solidified himself as a potential first-round pick. His versatility to play either tackle or guard is an added bonus — but he belongs on the blindside for the Carolina Panthers.”"

This would be a hugely popular pick. Ekwonu is a dominant figure who crushes all in his path at the college level, boasting the sort of physical attributes that normally go down extremely well in the NFL.

Carolina should be giving Brady Christensen an extended run on the blindside following an impressive showing against the Washington Football Team. If the BYU product shines in this role, it means the Panthers can look at alternative options in other positions.

They might still target Ekwonu in this instance. The lineman has experience playing as a guard, although he’s thrived on the edge and is only going to get better with additional coaching in the pro ranks.

A lot can happen between now and when it’s time for the Panthers to officially decide on their next batch of college recruits. Ekwonu’s stock is only going to surge once the evaluation and testing process begins, so he might not even be around by the time Carolina is on the clock.

Simply put, the Panthers have ignored the offensive line for too long. So selecting a supremely gifted individual like Ekwonu would be a shrewd bit of business.