5 Panthers players who could be replaced during the 2022 NFL Draft
By Dean Jones
Cam Erving – Carolina Panthers OT
As stated previously, the Carolina Panthers could use the No. 6 overall selection to finally solve their ongoing problems at left tackle. Brady Christensen’s status will play a leading role in what direction the team goes, but Matt Rhule was extremely reluctant to use the former third-round pick out of BYU as his long-term blindside option all things considered.
It would be a body blow if Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and Charles Cross are all gone by the time comes for Carolina to make their selection. Considering the questions surrounding this year’s quarterback class, this represents the safest option given Rhule’s status and need to win.
Should the Panthers get their hands on an elite blindside presence, then it would likely spell the end for Cam Erving in a starting role. The Florida State product was a huge letdown as expected after signing a two-year deal in 2021 free agency, which came with almost no accountability and left many wondering just why the Panthers opted to give him such a contract in the first place.
Releasing Erving didn’t make a lot of sense financially. So the decision to keep him around as a depth chart piece was probably an easy call to make.
Just another wasteful contract to ride out, one suspects.
However, if the Panthers finally find a worthy successor to Jordan Gross eight seasons after his retirement, then Erving will be forced to accept a backup role. Something that is more befitting his talent, in all honesty.