The Carolina Panthers have started 16 different men at left tackle over the past eight seasons and they still don’t have a clear answer at the position. So of course they’ll have interest in the 2022 draft’s top offensive linemen, especially for this top-heavy class.
But is a favorite amongst the perceived “big three” emerging? Perhaps.
With the sixth overall pick in hand, the Panthers will have eyes on Alabama’s Evan Neal, NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross. And according to longtime ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, it may be Cross who’s garnering the most attention from Carolina.
Keep hearing NYG and CAR connected to Mississippi St OT Charles Cross. It’s lying season so take it FWIW. If true, NYG should take Cross at 5, knowing CAR is likely to go OT or QB at 6. Then NYG gets same EDGE at 7 as it would’ve gotten at 5. Only potential flaw = CAR trading 6.
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) April 23, 2022
As McShay notes, it is indeed “lying season.” Front offices will purposely leak misleading information to reporters around this time in hopes of throwing other teams off their scent.
Luckily for the Panthers, their pick and the top-end talent at the spot will allow for some of that effective gamesmanship on their part. They’re also lucky that no matter who is there—Cross, Neal, Ekwonu or even Liberty University quarterback Malik Willis—they’ll end up having a shot at a franchise pillar this Thursday.
