Ranking the 9 best Panthers draft options at No. 6 overall in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could draft Ikem Ekwonu
- Offensive Line | North Carolina State
After another disastrous season across the offensive line, the Carolina Panthers had to act quickly. The signings of Austin Corbett and Bradley Bozeman should help an untold amount, but there is also uncertainty at the left tackle position to navigate before training camp comes around.
The Panthers’ plans for Brady Christensen will dictate proceedings. The former third-round pick was one of college football’s most productive blindside protectors before entering the league, but arm length concerns meant Matt Rhule was reluctant to throw the BYU product in at his preferred position despite the underperformance of Cam Erving.
Should Carolina decide Christensen’s best position is on the interior, then finding a stud left tackle from the college ranks is an absolute necessity. Ikem Ekwonu is among the best of the bunch and would be an extremely popular pick coming out of North Carolina State.
Ekwonu has a physicality and nastiness to his game that’s hard not to love. He is beyond dominant on running downs and can develop into a tremendous pass protector with additional technical refinement – something James Campen can undoubtedly provide.
There are very few holes in Ekwonu’s game. But if he doesn’t make it as a next-level tackle, then the Panthers would get themselves a guard with an All-Pro ceiling.
Whether Ekwonu will still be around at No. 6 is the big question.