4 intriguing options if the Panthers land a top-5 draft pick in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers finally select a franchise LT
It comes as no surprise that the offensive line has been another disaster this season. A group that consisted of mid-round draft prospects and underperforming veterans has become an expected source of frustration in 2021 and strengthening this critical area of the field should be priority No. 1 for the Carolina Panthers this offseason.
Considering that premium offensive linemen don’t usually become available on the free-agent market and the cost involved if they so, building through the draft is a necessity. The Panthers waited until the third round in 2021 to take someone to bolster their protection, but Brady Christensen is being mismanaged and Carolina still doesn’t know what it has in the BYU product.
Should the Panthers be picking in the top-five, it gives them an exceptional chance to finally find the franchise left tackle they’ve been looking for since Jordan Gross retired.
Someone like Alabama‘s commanding blindside protector Evan Neal could be available at this spot, which would be a dream come true if Carolina holds firm and cannot find the right sort of offer to trade down.
Neal is a mammoth presence that has the size, length, and technique to become a real force at the next level. The Panthers shouldn’t overthink it if the left tackle is there, but there are some other intriguing options also worthy of consideration.