4 worst-case draft scenarios for the Carolina Panthers in 2022
By Dean Jones
Top-3 OTs all come off the board by No. 6
Finding the right quarterback to lead the team after Sam Darnold fluffed his lines in 2021 should be a top priority. But there are some significant questions surrounding this class that could lead the Carolina Panthers to target another problem positional group that’s been a constant thorn in their side.
Not since the days of Jordan Gross have the Panthers been blessed with consistency at the left tackle position. Considering it’s been eight seasons since the All-Pro retired, this is something that must change at the earliest possible opportunity.
Fortunately for the Panthers, there are three elite prospects who might be available at No. 6 overall. Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and Charles Cross represent instant problem-solvers on the blindside, so passing on any of them might not be wise if one or more is on the board.
However, there is a chance that all three are unavailable by the time Carolina goes on the clock. This would be nothing short of a disaster when one considers the drop-off in the next tier of left tackles.
Should this scenario come to fruition, then it might lead to some panic and potentially reaching for a quarterback from a class where no prospect is worth a top-10 selection. The Panthers will be hoping the projected run on edge rushers and potentially even someone like Sauce Gardner going in the top-five becomes a reality.