The Carolina Panthers haven't drafted an OT in the 1st round since 2008 when they drafted Jeff Otah 13th overall. That long dry spell has
OFFICIALLY come to an end!
While Carolina believes Brady Christiansen showed promise playing LT in 2021, he was far from the kind of prospect the Panthers are looking for to hold down the left side of the line for the foreseeable future. This makes drafting Ikem Ekwonu a no-brainer for the Panthers!
Ikem Ekwonu is a dominant pass protector coming out of NC State and easily has the most upside of all the big 3 tackle prospects in this class! Ikem is one of the more athletically gifted tackle prospects you will ever see and moves with ease making second-level LBs look foolish when they try him. Ikem Ekwonu mixes tenacity, size, and devastating power at the point of attack with football intelligence. This unique blend of traits is sure to make Ikem Ekwonu a day 1 starter and potential All-Pro player in the making for The Panthers!
Grade: A -
- Cody Lachney, DraftTek Senior Analyst