Each week this offseason, we’ll be focusing on one position and how the Panthers may choose to address their needs; whether they’re in the market for an upgrade at starter or just a reliable backup, every player on the 53-man roster is going to be important in 2018.
This is Offensive Line Week.
Guard is undoubtedly the most uncertain position for the Panthers this offseason, and it all comes down to the future of Andrew Norwell. If Norwell resigns, then combined with Trai Turner, the Panthers have little need of a starting guard prospect and their attention should instead turn to adding depth on the final day of the draft or through UDFAs. However, if Norwell does walk, then the Panthers’ foremost offseason priority will be the addition of a new left guard; if that is the case, given the free agents expected to be available, the Panthers will likely have too look for one in the draft if they decide to keep Taylor Moton on the outside of the line.
The Top Guys
If the Panthers do move on from Norwell, Isaiah Wynn is undoubtedly the best replacement they could hope for. Wynn played tackle at Georgia, but is expected to move inside in the NFL and possesses almost every skill the Panthers could want in a guard. He moves well in space, shows good lateral agility in pass protection, shows both good play height and hand usage and even has enough power to move people in the run game. Of course, there is uncertainty in any prospect, but Wynn is one of the best guard prospects in recent years. Will Hernandez is the other guard who could play at a high level from day one; he doesn’t excel in any facet of the game, but is dependable throughout and should the Panthers simply want to stuff a hole in the ship, he will likely be available into the second day of the draft.
Teller and Nelson both offer good upside as prospects, but both will need some work to fulfill their potential. Both suffer from inconsistent hand usage, something that will get found out and exposed by the better defenders in the NFL. Nelson also needs to show a more consistent pad level, as he did play quite high at times in college, something that will make him susceptible to power moves in the NFL. Smith, Adams and Uhatafe are all fairly well rounded prospects but will likely be mediocre starters in the NFL; for the Panthers, these only really fill a need in that they could offer depth behind the starters or a emergency stopgap should they lose Norwell and fail to address this area in the first couple of days of the draft.
The Other Guys
Many of the prospects on this list offer little more than emergency depth or training camp bodies, and it would be surprising to see the Panthers spend a draft pick on most of them. Demby and Madison might merit a late pick to develop behind the starters but, should Norwell return, there is little need for the Panthers to spend any pick worth mentioning on a guard.
