Breaking down Carolina Panthers’ offensive line depth chart for 2024 training camp

As the Carolina Panthers count down the days until training camp , The Observer is assessing their roster one positional group at a time.

After already breaking down the playmaking positions , our series shifts to the revamped offensive line.

The big question: Will big-money OL moves improve protection around Bryce Young?

The Panthers gave up 65 sacks in 17 games last season. That total tied for second-most in the NFL, as Bryce Young was dropped 62 times for 477 yards, a deficit that ultimately led the league in sack yardage lost.

So, with a new front office in place, general manager Dan Morgan immediately jumped into action to improve the quarterback’s protection. The team signed guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt to upgrade the interior offensive line. Hunt was given a $100 million deal to improve the right guard spot, while Lewis — who worked with new head coach Dave Canales in Seattle — was handed a $53 million contract to work on the left side.

With both guard spots spoken for, the Panthers then moved Austin Corbett — the team’s former starting right guard — to center to replace Bradley Bozeman , who was released following a brutal second season in Carolina. Brady Christensen — the former starting left guard — was then dropped down the depth chart to improve the reinforcements behind the starters. Christensen is essentially the line’s sixth man, as he can play all five positions if needed.

Ikem Ekwonu, who struggled mightily during his sophomore campaign, will be further developed by new offensive line coach Joe Gilbert at left tackle . Veteran right tackle Taylor Moton will also return to his longtime post.

The hope is that a blend of the familiarity at the tackle positions, the changes made on the interior, and the new veteran staff will combine for a resolution to the pass protection issue of last season.

The Panthers’ OL depth chart

▪ The projected starters: Ikem Ekwonu (LT), Damien Lewis (LG), Austin Corbett (C), Robert Hunt (RG) and Taylor Moton (RT) — Ekwonu, Moton and Corbett are returning starters facing big campaigns with a new staff. Their staying power will be determined by their production this season. Lewis and Hunt are locked into big contracts, and they need to prove Morgan right sooner rather than later.

▪ The projected backups: Brady Christensen and Yosh Nijman — Christensen is an excellent piece as a utility lineman. He has played nearly every position on the field during his first three years with the Panthers. Morgan paid Nijman pretty stellar money to be a main backup at offensive tackle. If Ekwonu or Moton struggle, Nijman could push them for a starting spot.

▪ The competition: Cade Mays, Chandler Zavala, J.D. DiRenzo, Ricky Lee, Nash Jensen, Andrew Raym, Badara Traore, Jeremiah Crawford and Christian Duffie — This group is packed with young, developmental talent.

Mays, similar to Christensen , has the ability to play all five positions. Zavala is coming off an awful rookie year and will need to prove himself to his new boss. Lee, DiRenzo and Jensen all played last year after flashing potential as rookies during training camp.

Player to watch in camp: Ikem Ekwonu

Ekwonu’s second NFL season didn’t go as planned last year. Then again, nothing went as planned for the Panthers last season, so the jury is still out on the 2022 first-round pick.

Ekwonu will now have his second offensive line coach in three years. Gilbert has been around the league for a long time and developed quite a few tackles in his recent tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gilbert will now look to bring out the best in Ekwonu as a pass protector.

With a new line neighbor in Lewis, Ekwonu will have a bigger body next to him, which could lead to move trust in his pass protection. Ekwonu has always been a stellar run-blocker, but protecting Young should always take priority.

This might be a make-or-break season for the N.C. State alum, as the guard spots are spoken for in the team’s long-term plans. If Ekwonu can’t handle the tackle position, he might not have a home on the line down the road.

Ekwonu’s assessment will begin this summer when padded practices begin in Charlotte during training camp.