4 Carolina Panthers players finally realizing their potential in 2022
By Dean Jones
Brady Christensen – Carolina Panthers OL
There was growing frustration surrounding Brady Christensen during his rookie campaign. This had nothing to do with his performance levels but rather gross mismanagement of where the offensive lineman was best suited.
This once again fell on Matt Rhule and his staff, further demonstrating their failure to develop or evaluate professional players. Something that played a leading role in his eventual demise.
Thankfully, the penny dropped for Rhule and the Carolina Panthers late in training camp, switching Christensen to the left guard position and finally deploying No. 6 overall selection Ikem Ekwonu on the edge. A decision that’s brought some impressive results in 2022 so far.
Christensen received a better interior grade from Carolina during their pre-draft assessments. So why it took them so long to actually go through with the former BYU standout in their preferred position is a mystery.
The 2021 third-round selection has played well aside from some slight discipline issues. Christensen is only going to get better with additional experience, so the Panthers have a solid long-term base on the left side of their offensive line that can form a key component behind any future success.
It wasn’t easy for Christensen during his first season in the pros. But he’s now excelling which speaks a lot about the player’s character and adaptability.