The Carolina Panthers drafted some help on the offensive line with their second selection in the second round of the NFL Draft.
There was no secret that the Carolina Panthers needed help at the tackle position on the offensive line. They came into the off season withMichael Oherstill on the concussion protocol andMike Remmersout as a free agent. The team signedMatt Kalilto solve a big problem, but they are still waiting on Oher. The Panthers made a move to alleviate that situation in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Panthers took tackleTaylor Motonfrom Western Michigan with the 64thpick in the draft. For some background, the Panthers tradedKony Ealyand their third round pick to the New England Patriots to move up to this spot. Dave Gettleman explained the move as getting pure gold in a deep early draft. It didn’t hurt that the Panthers also gave away Ealy’s salary without picking up any other cap concern.
Moton is a 6’5” 320 pound lineman. He can fit in several spaces on the line. ESPN lists him as a tackle, but NFL.com lists him as a guard. This kind of flexibility is needed for backup linemen. It also means that the Panthers have some confidence in their current lineman group because Moton’s versatility works better if he is called upon at moment’s notice rather than being the plug in starter at right tackle.
Moton’s pluses include leverage at contact, which marks as the kind of run blocker that the Panthers need. He may be a better fit at guard asTravelle Whartonturned out to be, but ready to come in at tackle in a pinch. That did not stop him from having some standout games as a tackle his senior year, particularly against Illinois.
Next: Panthers Draft Samuel at Forty
The Carolina Panthers have one more pick to make here in day two. They have a compensatory pick to make near the very end of the third round that they were awarded for losingJosh Norman.
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