The Carolina Panthers’ need for offensive linemen has been a secret to absolutely nobody. So, of course, much of their focus heading into Indianapolis this weekend had to be on the upcoming draft’s hog mollies.
And now, with the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine all wrapped up, that focus remains the same—at least according to ESPN.
Senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler and NFL insider Dan Graziano came away with a plentiful of bag of nuggets from Lucas Oil Stadium from the past few days. Among those delicious nuggies was the reinforcement of that perceived approach for the Panthers, with a relatively fresh name possibly in mind.
“. . . teams I expect to consider linemen with high first-round picks are the Panthers at No. 6 and the New York Giants, who hold picks Nos. 5 and 7,” Graziano notes. “If NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu isn’t the No. 1 overall pick, I believe he’ll be of interest especially to the Giants, who could take him at No. 5 or even move up a spot or two to get him if that’s what it takes. I wouldn’t be surprised if Carolina looked at Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum with that No. 6 pick.”
While the center position isn’t one that often warrants that high of a selection, Linderbaum is widely considered the best prospect at the spot in quite some time. The 2021 unanimous All-American did not participate in workout portions of the combine, instead just opting to measure in at 6-foot-2 and 296 pounds.
Even if Carolina doesn’t go that route, there are a handful of other players to ponder when it comes to the line. Along with Ekwonu—Alabama’s Evan Neal, Mississippi State’s Charles Cross and even Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning could be in the running for that sixth overall slot.
