The Carolina Panthers left tackle problems could have a long-term solution with the selection of pass protecting specialist Charles Cross.
Even with the good additions of offensive linemen Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett, the Carolina Panthers still need a left tackle. Brady Christensen is a solid player, but the protection could draft a true franchise blindside presence at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That could very well be Charles Cross.
The former five-star prospect has flown up the draft boards since the beginning of the 2021 college football season. Playing on the pass-heavy Mississippi State offense allowed Cross to show off his proficiency in protecting the quarterback, and NFL teams all took notice due to the standard of his overall production.
There is a legitimate debate about who the best offensive lineman is from a deep class this year. Ikem Ekonwu, Evan Neal, and Cross appear to be the consensus top-three, but many could end up becoming instant starters if their transition goes smoothly.
Any of the three would have an immediate impact. But Cross has proven to everyone that he has legitimate franchise left tackle potential and could be the answer the Panthers have been searching for.
There have been some rumors that Cross could go as high as No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Needless to say, if Carolina has the opportunity to select him, the prospect might just be their primary target.
Taking a long look at our scouting report on Cross paints a clearer picture of what kind of prospect he is and how he could assist the Panthers.
Charles Cross scouting report
- Height: 6-foot-5
- Weight: 307 pounds
- Arm length: 34.5 inches
- 40-yard dash: 4.95
- 2021 PFF grade: 86.7
On the surface, seeing Charles Cross’ physical attributes does not make anyone think he is a top-tier lineman prospect. But when watching him on film and at the NFL Scouting Combine, it becomes clear why he is a projected top-10 pick thanks to his jaw-dropping fluidity, athleticism, and technique.
There is a reason why the Mississippi-raised tackle had one of the pass protection win rates in college football last season. Cross has incredibly smooth, quick feet and his anchor against a straight bull rush is outstanding.
However, his best quality is the use of the catch technique.
This technique is a way to limit a pass rusher’s ability to swim, rip, or spin past a blocker. By allowing the defender to come into him first, Cross can latch his hands onto the outside of the defender’s shoulder pads to trap the defender in his grasp.
Cross has physical hands and so much fluidity in his hips and feet that he can do all of this without committing holding penalties. Even when he cannot catch a defender, the prospect has the body control and football IQ to control the leverage against a pass rusher, meaning he will rarely get beat one-on-one in pass protection.
Run blocking is not exactly Cross’ strength. But with good coaching in a zone-running scheme, he would be a quality road grader.
The negatives in run blocking on Cross is that he plays too high at times, and he lacks some physicality on his first strike. However, the redshirt sophomore has fantastic mobility, and his ability to move, in addition to his high football intelligence, allows him to create space for the ball carrier to run into.
One big negative about Cross’ game is he is susceptible to misstepping and whiffing on blocks after the snap. But these are few and far between.
The rough parts of Cross’ game can be smoothed over. And the positives he brings to the left tackle position heavily outweigh the downsides.
At the very least, Cross will be a solid pass protector in the NFL. He has an All-Pro ceiling and is someone that can assist the Carolina Panthers an untold amount.
How would Charles Cross fit on the Carolina Panthers?
- Week 1 starting left tackle
The former first-team All-American would slot into the left tackle spot immediately if he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers. There is absolutely no doubt about that whatsoever.
Adding a blue-chip left tackle prospect alongside top-tier right tackle Taylor Moton would give the rest of the offense a lot more confidence in the protection. The offensive line was a disaster, but with the recent additions in free agency, drafting Cross to an already much-improved group would rejuvenate the passing game and the running game.
Carolina would not be able to trade down and select Cross outside the top-10. Barring a catastrophic drop, he will be drafted somewhere in the 5-10 range based on projections from many respected draft analysts up and down the country.
The Panthers would be wise to select a left tackle despite the obvious need for a long-term solution at quarterback. If Cross performs up to or above expectations, he would solidify the position for the next decade and would finally be the successor to Jordan Gross that Carolina has craved for many years.
The selection of a lineman at No. 6 overall would not be sexy. But it would surely help the offense a ton, and it would fix the second most important position for new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo for the first time in a good while.