4 elite traits Ikem Ekwonu brings to the Carolina Panthers
By Dean Jones
What elite traits will Ikem Ekwonu bring to the Carolina Panthers after the stud offensive tackle was selected at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft?
At long last, the Carolina Panthers finally got their hands on a franchise left tackle by selecting Ikem Ekwonu at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. This was reportedly the top player on their board and based on a social media video released by the team, there was plenty of surprise in the war room when the North Carolina State product fell into their laps.
Ekwonu grew up as a Panthers fan and is clearly overjoyed to be part of the organization. This could also be a franchise-shifting move at a position that has lacked stability since Jordan Gross retired following the 2013 campaign.
This was an opportunity the Panthers couldn’t turn down. Something that could assist Carolina in the short and long term if Ekwonu’s transition to the pros goes without a hitch.
With this in mind, here are four elite traits that Ekwonu will bring to the Panthers in 2022 and beyond.
Elite Trait No. 1
Ikem Ekwonu brings ruthless aggression
One thing that really jumps out when watching Ikem Ekwonu on the field is the way he approaches every down. This is a lineman that goes above and beyond to find conflict and is nothing short of ruthless – crushing almost anyone in his path for good measure.
This sort of attitude is something that’s been sorely missed by the Carolina Panthers. Ekwonu is an instant upgrade on anything the team has right now and a potential partnership with second-year-pro Brady Christensen on the left-hand side has the scope to be highly productive next season and long into the future.
Ekwonu’s ruthless aggression will go down well with fans. It will also rub off on his teammates in a positive fashion.