7 defensive tackles the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2022 NFL Draft
Carolina Panthers could select Otito Ogbonnia (UCLA)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 324 pounds
2021 Stats:
- 27 tackles
- 2 sacks
- 5 tackles for loss
- 71.6 PFF Grade
Otito Ogbonnia did not show much production in college, but the former shotputter has a good frame and a powerful lower body. With time, he will develop into a quality rotational defensive tackle with the versatility to line up over the center, A-gap, over the guard, and the B-gaps.
The only knock on Ogbonnia is his heavy feet. He is very slow laterally, which can cause issues against zone running schemes and when defending in space. That is why his draft stock is lower than it really should be.
Even with that big negative, his initial reaction to the snap is quick. Ogbonnia can slip through gaps off the snap of the ball and create havoc in the backfield.
That in combination with the power from his lower body makes him an intriguing development project that the Carolina Panthers could progress into a solid contributor in this scenario.
Ogbonnia could be a handful in pass protection situations. If given a handful of snaps a game in the rotation, the lineman would be valuable to any team that drafts him.
Most analysts predict the UCLA product to get drafted somewhere in the middle of Day 3. Carolina should have plenty of draft capital on this day of the draft to utilize and could do with another young piece for their depth chart.