Panthers like Brady Christensen’s background at BYU, but need to find out where he fits
The Carolina Panthers selected BYU offensive tackle Brady Christensen with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. The Panthers moved up from the 73rd pick to get him, also sending the 191th pick in the sixth round to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Christensen, 24, blocked for second overall pick Zach Wilson this past year and was voted first-team All-America in 2020. During his final year at BYU, he only allowed pressures on 293 pass-blocking snaps. He started at least 12 games at left tackle each of the last three seasons.
The Panthers did not commit to him playing left tackle in the NFL, although he played the position all through college. He has the capability to play inside.
“I can play left tackle at a high level. I know I can. I proved it in college. I feel like those skills can definitely translate to playing left tackle in the NFL,” Christensen said. “With that being said, I feel like I can play all five and be very versatile. Like I said before, whatever the Panthers need, that’s what I’m excited to go do and be able to play at a high level.”
It’s rare to draft a 24-year-old player, but his age is more of a consequence of his unique path. Prior to his success for the Cougars, he served a two-year church mission in New Zealand and then redshirted in 2017. He said that his time in New Zealand allowed him to grow as a person and helped him develop into his body. Christensen noted that he was able to gain some weight with the help of Polyensian food and seafood.
This past season, Christensen, who’s 6-foot-5, 302 pounds, set a Pro Football Focus record with the best grade by an offensive lineman in a single season (96.0), besting Penei Sewell’s previous mark from 2019.
“He’s a versatile player, a guy who can play outside and inside. We’ll wait to see when he gets here where exactly he fits,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said. “He comes from that pro-style offense at BYU. So he’s done the things that we’re asking guys to do. He’s been doing it there. He’s tackle candidate that can also go inside and play guard.”
Christensen is the first offensive lineman taken by the Panthers in this year’s draft
Where will he fit? That’s to be seen, but he’s not going to be just given a starting role. The Panthers now have a collection of players on the roster that they feel can play multiple positions from 2019 sixth-round pick Dennis Daley to free-agent signings Pat Elflein and Cameron Erving.
Christensen could fill a major position of need as the team does not have a clear starting left tackle on the roster. Christensen will compete with Trent Scott, Greg Little and Erving.
The Panthers’ top decision-makers were in attendance at his pro day. He ran a 4.92 40-yard dash, had a 34-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump that day, per Rhule . Tristan Wirfs set the broad jump record in 2020 with a 10-foot-1 broad jump.
Like the rest of the players selected on day 3 of the draft, the Panthers believe that the team found someone who is an “elite” athlete, good person and has football instincts.
“I was at the BYU pro day, and he was really impressive in person,” general manager Scott Fitterer said. “And then you hear about the character, the work ethic, the intelligence, the toughness. That’s what really sold us on him.”
This story was originally published April 30, 2021 at 9:52 PM with the headline "Panthers like Brady Christensen’s background at BYU, but need to find out where he fits."
