Will Ikem Ekwonu start at left tackle? Projecting roles for Panthers’ rookies this season
Each year an NFL team’s rookie class enters the league with hopeful expectations.
Whether it’s a new quarterback, an exciting wide receiver, or a defensive stopper, fans expect their team’s rookies to either make an immediate impact or an eventual splash.
The Panthers have made a top-10 selection in each of the past three seasons. Coach Matt Rhule (along with then GM Marty Hurney) picked defensive tackle Derrick Brown in 2020. Then Rhule and current GM Scott Fitterer selected cornerback Jaycee Horn in 2021 followed by tackle Ikem Ekwonu in April.
All three first-round picks of the Rhule era have been received well. Brown impressed as a rookie before enduring a slight sophomore slump last season. The team expects him to bounce back this season. Last year Horn was an early Rookie of the Year candidate before breaking his foot in Week 3. Through three games, Horn allowed only one catch for eight yards on 95 coverage snaps. Expect Horn to pick up where he left off.
This year’s rookie class brings a blend of potential blue-chip talent mixed with a few possible early contributors and some long-term projects.
Ekwonu highlights the class, but the team is hopeful that later-round selections like linebacker Brandon Smith or quarterback Matt Corral can develop into future starters similar to Jeremy Chinn or Brady Christensen.
With training camp less than a week away, let’s review the Panthers’ 2022 draft class and project roles for the incoming rookies.
Ikem Ekwonu - LT
▪ Projected role: Starting left tackle.
Every expectation around the Panthers’ No. 6 pick slates him as the team’s starting left tackle in 2022. However, Carolina is in no rush to hand him that spot until he is ready.
During OTAs and minicamp, Ekwonu shared left tackle reps with Christensen. The team views both Ekwonu and Christensen as left-side players, capable of starting at either tackle or guard.
Once the pads come on in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Ekwonu will have about 13 practices and three preseason games to show offensive line coach James Campen he should start at left tackle.
Learning an NFL playbook and adjusting to freakish pass rushers like the Browns’ Myles Garrett (Week 1 opponent) will immediately challenge Ekwonu, who was a multi-time All-American at N.C. State and the first offensive player selected in the draft.
Matt Corral - QB
▪ Projected role: Third-string quarterback.
Public expectations for Corral drastically changed when Carolina traded for Baker Mayfield last week. Internally, the team has kept their plans for the third-round pick about the same.
Rhule, Fitterer and new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo remain consistent about bringing Corral along slowly. That was the team’s sentiment after drafting him and will remain the plan with Mayfield in camp.
There is little to no chance Corral will win the starting job at training camp. He likely won’t receive enough reps to even compete with the two fifth-year quarterbacks. Instead, he’ll learn behind Sam Darnold and Mayfield while having no pressure to perform even if one of the two is injured early in the season.
Essentially Corral is taking a redshirt season to learn McAdoo’s NFL offense.
Brandon Smith - LB
▪ Projected role: Special teams contributor.
Before Rhule took over, the Panthers had the worst rushing defense in 2019. Since then the team has made strides to improve its front seven. Finding an every-down linebacker to pair with Shaq Thompson would help the team be more consistent against the run.
Linebackers Damien Wilson and Cory Littleton are expected to earn reps ahead of Smith, who the team selected No. 120. But the rookie should shine early as a special teams contributor based on his superb athleticism.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound linebacker ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He played three seasons at Penn State. During his senior season, he had 81 tackles and two sacks.
During his introductory news conference, Smith said he considers himself more of an edge rusher, but he is willing to play inside backer as well. That much position flexibility, parlayed with his special teams chops, should make Smith someone the coaches can trust.
Amaré Barno - EDGE
▪ Projected role: Situational pass rusher.
Carolina still has a Haason Reddick-sized hole to fill opposite Brian Burns. The team could sign a veteran pass rusher before or during training to provide depth, but eventually Barno will get an opportunity to showcase his speed on the outside.
At 6-5, 236 pounds, Barno played three seasons at Virginia Tech where he had 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during the 2021 season. His most productive year came during his sophomore campaign when he finished third in the FBS with 16 tackles for loss in 2020.
His 4.36 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine was the fastest of all defensive linemen in the draft.
Barno needs to add bulk to his frame and develop a wider range of pass-rush moves to become a situational pass rusher.
Cade Mays - OL
▪ Projected role: Depth provider.
Like Corral, Mays enters his rookie season with limited expectations.
The former Tennessee lineman played both tackle and guard in the SEC and excelled at both. Like Christensen, Mays has five-position flexibility. He took reps at guard and center during OTAs and minicamp.
Once a glaring weakness just last season, Carolina has revamped its offensive line by drafting Ekwonu and signing center Bradley Bozeman and guard Austin Corbett. Adding veterans should keep Mays available only in the case of emergency.
He’ll compete with Dennis Daley, Michael Jordan, Pat Elflein, and Deonte Brown for interior reps.
Kalon Barnes - CB
▪ Projected role: Fringe 53-man roster.
Barnes brings a lot of speed to the Panthers’ already fast cornerback room.
He caught evaluators’ attention by gliding through an NFL Combine-best 4.23-second 40-yard dash, the second-fastest time ever behind only former Bengals receiver John Ross’ 4.22 in 2017.
As a senior at Baylor, Barnes recorded 23 tackles, five pass deflections and an interception. His 21 catches allowed were the fewest of any Big 12 cornerback. Despite his blazing speed, Barnes remained undrafted entering the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft until Carolina selected him at No. 242.
Rhule originally recruited Barnes to Baylor and coached him for two years before coming to Carolina. Reunited with his college coach, Barnes has a chance to make the final 53-man roster but faces stiff competition.
Horn is back from a broken foot. Four-year starter and 2018 second-round pick Donte Jackson re-signed. Carolina traded for 2020 first-rounder C.J Henderson last year. The team also likes Myles Hartsfield as an early-down nickel corner. Keith Taylor, a 2021 fifth-rounder, appeared in all 17 games last year and started three.
Barnes has what it takes but the Panthers are already deep at cornerback.
This story was originally published July 19, 2022 at 2:50 PM.
