3 major observations from the Carolina Panthers picking Ikem Ekwonu
By Dean Jones
What are the major observations we can take from the Carolina Panthers selecting premier offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft?
The Carolina Panthers finally have a left tackle with elite potential. After things went perfectly with all defensive players taken in the top five, they had the pick of the litter and eventually selected Ikem Ekwonu, who was reportedly the top prospect on their board according to Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network.
Ekwonu is a hugely popular pick having played his college football at North Carolina State. But that is just scratching the surface as to what made this selection so appealing to the Panthers.
The lineman is a brute force against the run that can detonate everything in his path. Ekwonu needs a little refinement in pass protection, but working with James Campen should bring on his game considerably once he finally gets into the building.
This has the potential to completely transform Carolina’s fortunes on the blindside – a positional group that has severely lacked any sort of consistency since Jordan Gross hung up his cleats eight years ago.
Adding Ekwonu sets the tone. A difference-maker the Panthers have craved for almost a decade.
There is still work to be done this weekend. But the Panthers are a much better team for having the lineman on it that’s for sure.
Without further ado, here are three major observations from Carolina selecting Ekwonu at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.