5 Carolina Panthers players set for bigger and better things in 2022

Brady Christensen – Carolina Panthers OL

There is little doubt Brady Christensen was the victim of some mismanagement as a rookie. In the end, it was the player’s versatility that ended up costing the third-round pick as the Carolina Panthers had no clue how best to utilize his impressive skill set until it was too late.

Christensen now has a better indication of where his long-term future lies after the Panthers drafted Ikem Ekwonu at No. 6 overall to be their franchise left tackle. However, head coach Matt Rhule has not committed to this one way or another ahead of training camp.

This could be a ploy to increase urgency with Ekwonu. But it would be a big surprise if he wasn’t immediately starting on the blindside in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.

Although there is some solid competition, Christensen looks set to earn the starting left guard role from the outset. A position where Carolina had him graded higher during their pre-draft evaluations despite an exceptional college career as a left tackle at BYU.

Considering the improvements made across the protection in recent months, if Christensen can also hold his own it would be a massive bonus. One that could see the Panthers boast one of the league’s most improved offensive lines along the way.

Christensen has the athleticism and footwork to become a productive starter. But the Panthers must put him in a better position to thrive.