Not since the days of Jordan Gross have the Carolina Panthers been secure at the left tackle position. Gross’ last NFL down came in 2013.
Since then, the blindside had become less of a security blanket and more of a patchwork one—with the likes of Byron Bell, Michael Oher, Matt Kalil and Cameron Erving coming and going. In all, the team started 16 different players at left tackle between 2014 and 2021.
But hope sprung eternal in the spring of 2022, when the Panthers selected Ikem Ekwonu with the sixth overall pick of that year’s draft. The Charlotte, N.C. native and North Carolina State University standout proceeded to get those hopes up even more, flashing throughout a rookie campaign where he allowed just three sacks in his final 15 games.
Unfortunately, though, Ekwonu’s sophomore season wasn’t as smooth. His footwork in pass protection was inconsistent and he struggled to counter inside rush moves—often leaning over into the rushers and compromising his base.
Fans then begin to question Ekwonu as a potential bust, and were uncertain of his future heading into 2024.
As the former All-American has come to show, patience is key to developing raw talent. This past offseason, the 23-year-old stated that his second year was a humbling one—admitting that he was “riding the coattails” of that phenomenal rookie campaign.
Now, he’s riding pretty high—stacking one good game after another, even in a non-contentious season by Carolina as a whole. He’s shown satisfactory development for a roster that should have one less worry amongst a list of many this upcoming offseason.
When Dave Canales was hired from Tampa Bay as the head coach, he brought offensive line coach Joe Gilbert with him. General manager Dan Morgan also went out and signed two quality starting interior lineman, including left guard Damien Lewis.
There’s no question that Gilbert and Lewis have been detrimental to Ekwonu’s progression this season.
Last year, communication was a big issue for Ekwonu and the rest of the offensive line—which might as well have featured a turnstile at both guard spots. Injuries and missteps left him on islands he wasn’t supposed to be on.
It’s a different story this season. Lewis has made Ekwonu’s job much easier and his growth more seamless. Continuity matters up front, and that is allowing him to reap the benefits.
Take a look at some of the following clips from Sunday’s loss in Washington.
Notice how much more patient Ekwonu is in his pass sets. His punches are accurate, timely, and consistent.
His first step–the kick step out of his stance–is quicker and more explosive, allowing him to get himself on top of speed rushers efficiently. He also displays good mirroring, flexibility and the ability to wash pass rushers out of the play.
Ikem Ekwonu 📈
One of the underrated storylines from the lowly #Panthers has been the progression of their left tackle. A lot of improvements in patience, mirroring, timing in punches, and overall FBI. pic.twitter.com/OJj55yrg3s
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) October 23, 2024
Ekwonu is beginning to utilize better finesse and combine that with the physical traits that made him a top-10 draft choice. On occasion, he will still have mental blunders, miss a punch, expose his chest to rushers and commit inexcusable penalties like false starts and holdings. Yet, it’s important to notice that these are happening less and less often, a sign that Ekwonu is growing.
The Panthers have not had a Pro Bowl or All-Pro left tackle since Gross. Should Ekwonu continue this level of play for the next several weeks—he would be more than deserving of not just a Pro Bowl invite, but a solidified spot in Carolina’s future.
