Panthers balance sheet: Offense in the black after Baker Mayfield trade
By Dean Jones
How much can the Carolina Panthers OL improve?
It was pretty depressing to watch the offensive line crumble once again in 2021. This lackluster group was an abomination from start to finish and had it not been for the consistent performances of Taylor Moton, there’s just no telling how much worst it would have been.
Thankfully, this issue was something the Carolina Panthers didn’t avoid this offseason. Scott Fitterer and his staff made strengthening the protection their top priority, which could see four new starters along the line providing everything goes according to plan in training camp.
Bradley Bozeman and Austin Corbett are proven performers with the capability to provide the interior consistency that was sorely lacking last time around. If Brady Christensen wins the starting left guard job as expected, then things could be looking up at last.
Of course, Ikem Ekwonu was the marquee arrival at No. 6 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. The supreme force has the scope to give Carolina a blindside presence not seen since the days of Jordan Gross, although one suspects there might be a rude awakening or two along the way in Year 1 of his professional career.
New offensive line coach James Campen joining the ranks was another tremendous bit of business by the Panthers. Although they might not be an elite unit, there’s a lot to like about some significant improvements taking place in the coming months.