The Panthers traded up 10 spots in the second round for Ole Miss offensive tackle Greg Little. While they did give up a surplus of draft capital to Seattle to get there, there’s a lot to like about the pick itself.
After making the trade and the pick, general manager Marty Hurney and coach Ron Rivera readily admitted to the media that Little needs to improve as a run blocker.
However, this pick is all about better protection for Cam Newton.
Little is considered to be one of the best pass blockers in this draft class. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 26 total pressures on 993 pass-blocking snaps over his last two seasons in college.
Little definitely has some developing to do and even the most promising prospects sometimes don’t work out in the NFL. However, that success he had against SEC competition bodes well for his future in the pros. In fact, one of Little’s toughest competitors shared some high praises for his game.
This year’s No. 7 overall pick, Jaguars EDGE Josh Allen calls Little balanced, poised and one of the best tackles in the draft.
While Rivera told the media Little won’t be given the spot, it’s clear they see him as a potential long-term starter on the blind side.
If the Panthers really have found themselves a legitimate franchise left tackle with this pick, few will care about the lost trade value.
Newton was sacked 29 times in 2018, bringing his career total to 285. That number should be a concern in the long run and Newton can’t continue taking that kind of punishment if he’s going to play at a high level through another contract extension.
Adding a player like Little should help keep the foundation of the franchise secure. That’s reason enough for fans to like the pick.
