The Carolina Panthers are at a crisis point. It isn't because of their defense, but because their offensive line has been a revolving door for quarterback Bryce Young.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Panthers have allowed the fourth-most pressures and the fifth-highest pressure rate in the NFL, as well as the second-most sacks allowed. In a critical year for the franchise and Young, this cannot continue.
With rumors of potential personnel changes along the offensive line, I wanted to give the Week 9 starting offensive line a shot.
Let's make some crucial changes to arguably the most important aspect of the Panthers' roster thus far, ahead of this weekend's crucial game against the Denver Broncos.
Projecting the Carolina Panthers' offensive line in Week 9 as big changes loom
Left tackle: Monroe Freeling
Rasheed Walker must be benched, who is allowing a league-leading 31 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. No highlights will be posted anytime soon, which means it is time to give rookie first-round pick Monroe Freeling a shot at his natural position.
Freeling hasn't been much better, allowing 20 pressures this season. But I'd much rather have a young, high-ceiling offensive tackle with room to grow than a veteran starter who cannot stop a bull rush at all.
Walker has already indirectly hurt two important players because of his play at left tackle. It's better to give Freeling an opportunity as the Panthers await the return of Ikem Ekwonu, who would significantly bolster the offensive line.
Left guard: Damien Lewis
Either Brady Christensen or Corey Bullock would back up Damien Lewis, but when healthy, the veteran guard is the Panthers' best offensive lineman.
Questions remain about Lewis' future after this season, and a 30-year-old guard with nagging injuries could force an offensive-line retool. Regardless, he improves this unit, health permitting.
Center: Sam Hecht or Corey Bullock
Luke Fortner signed as a serviceable bridge starter for Sam Hecht. Instead, he has become a turnstile at center. He's allowed 18 pressures, the most of any center in the NFL. The benching must happen this week.
The center spot is the trickiest position for Carolina to navigate, mainly because head coach Dave Canales and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert have several options to lean on. If they want to get their young players experience, Hecht would be a good option.
However, Bullock would make the most sense if the Panthers feel Hecht is still developing. Week 9 should test whether Carolina needs to make a move ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.
Personally, I would start Hecht to see what you have short-term and long-term, and what other aspects of his game must improve.
Right guard: Robert Hunt
This is another tricky evaluation to make because of how much the Panthers are paying Robert Hunt — roughly $20 million per season. If it weren't for the contract, the right guard would've been benched by now, and he hasn't been the same since tearing his bicep last season.
Hunt will likely start this week, but it would be admirable of Carolina to bench him for someone like Christensen, who had the best stretch of his career playing at this spot and could play any of the other four positions along the front.
Right tackle: Stone Forsythe
The moment that Panthers fans didn't want could be happening this weekend. Carolina has no great options at right tackle with Taylor Moton out for the year, but they need to find the best combination of starters to give themselves the best chance to win.
Stone Forsythe could surprise some people. The biggest thing he must do is play serviceable football at right tackle, giving his quarterback just enough time to make the big-time throws he was making before this recent stretch.
I could see this being Christensen's spot. However, the need for a better product and the BYU product's better fit as an interior lineman make Forsythe the obvious replacement as a starter at right tackle.
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