Ikem Ekwonu will do a lot of good for the Panthers, but he may not start at tackle Day 1
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The first five picks of the 2022 NFL Draft could not have unfolded better for the Carolina Panthers.
Live from Las Vegas, the draft opened with five straight defensive players. Jacksonville took Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker. The Lions selected Aidan Hutchinson. Then things got interesting.
Houston picked LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, guaranteeing the Panthers one of the top three offensive tackles.
A short 5 minutes later, Carolina was on the clock staring. Just before that, another defensive player (Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner) went to the Jets. For the Panthers — a team set on selecting an offensive player — the draft started with them.
Carolina could’ve selected the first quarterback of the evening. But it’s been believed both Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) and Malik Willis (Liberty) were both considered reaches inside the top 10. That made picking a tackle the only real option Carolina had.
After months of worrying about Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross all being gone before No. 6, the Panthers had a choice between all three. Selecting Ekwonu was a no-brainer.
Why the Panthers picked Ikem Ekwonu
Once five straight defenders were taken, the Panthers had two options: Trade the pick or take their top-ranked tackle. Rather than risk losing out on Ekwonu, Carolina made the Charlotte native the first tackle selected in the 2022 NFL draft.
Ekwonu fits everything Carolina is trying to build across its revamped offensive line. Since hiring offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, coach Matt Rhule said the team is installing a downhill, power-run scheme. In free agency, the Panthers signed guards Austin Corbett and Bradley Bozeman. Corbett played in a diverse run scheme with the Super Bowl champion Rams while Bozeman spent the past several years helping the Ravens and Lamar Jackson dominate on the ground.
The Panthers and new offensive line coach James Campen landed the final piece in Carolina’s swift offensive line rebuild by selecting Ekwonu.
Ikem Ekwonu strengths
Ekwonu brings immediate run-blocking expertise to Carolina. At NC State, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound tackle played with a mean streak. He attacks with aggressiveness and control, showing he’s already refined in the trenches.
“He is a very aggressive, physical run blocker,” NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein told The Charlotte Observer. “He can move people around. He has tremendous explosiveness in his lower and upper body. He can move blocks in terms of zone blocking. He can also be a gap scheme blocker. Basically, he fits into any run scheme that you want.”
General manager Scott Fitterer called having his choice of Ekwonu, Neal or Cross “the best-case scenario” and admitted he was very surprised all three were available. Ekwonu was the pick because he is the most complete tackle in this class, fits the power-run scheme, and impressed the organization on his top-30 visit.
“He’s the tone-setter. He’s a smart guy. He’s physical. He’s tough. He’s got every trait that you want in an offensive lineman,” Fitterer said. “He came in here and met with us a week or two ago, and really impressed everybody. This guy just blows us away with his intelligence.”
At the combine, a scout described the 34-inch armed tackle as someone who plays with “hate in his heart” but is a great person off the field.
Ekwonu is everything a top-10 prospect should be. The athletic traits are a given and quite obvious. But the Panthers landed a culture strengthener. A tackle who will complement the pieces around him while he develops into what Carolina hopes is a longtime All-Pro.
Things Ikem Ekwonu can improve
For how polished Ekwonu is as a run blocker, he has room to improve in pass protection. Several scouts described him as “raw” a pass blocker. Those same evaluators think he should play guard his first few years in the league, allowing time for his pass sets to improve.
“I’m sure he’s going to be looked at as a left tackle, as a right tackle, and as a guard. I could see him potentially playing guard early in his career as he continues to get better with past protection,” Zierlein said. “He could become one of the best offensive linemen in this draft within three to four years.”
Be patient with Ekwonu. There will be some bumps and rookie moments in his first year, especially if he starts at tackle. There are going to be flashes of brilliance followed by concerning moments. But the final product should be worth the wait.
Ikem Ekwonu’s role with Panthers
When asked where he’d like to play, Ekwonu did not have a preference.
“Wherever coach Campen thinks we can win the most games,” he said.
Though his answer was politically correct, it also speaks to the versatility of both Ekwonu and the team’s offensive line. Rhule and Fitterer both are comfortable with second-year tackle Brady Christensen starting the season at left tackle. Then Ekwonu could play left guard and Bozeman starts at center while Corbett and Moton hold down the right side.
By selecting Ekwonu, the Panthers kept their options upfront open while simultaneously completing their offensive line and securing their left tackle for years to come.
This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 10:32 PM with the headline "Ikem Ekwonu will do a lot of good for the Panthers, but he may not start at tackle Day 1."
