3 More Players Panthers Should Bench After Bryce Young

2. LT Ikem Ekwonu

It's not all on Ikem Ekwonu, nor is even most of it, but the Panthers' offensive line has been a mess. Ekwonu was a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, yet he's failed to become the stalwart left tackle that Carolina needs.

He's yet to give up a sack in 2024 but has four penalties and it's clear the Panthers could use an upgrade. Given the cost to acquire a left tackle, the team will likely be patient, yet capable pass-rushers like Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson could make life miserable for Ekwonu. If the offensive line doesn't protect Dalton, Bryce Young may wind up starting again at some point.

While Ekwonu has done a decent job in pass protection, he's been a mess in run blocking. He's got a team-worst 60.4 run-blocking grade at PFF, and Carolina has one of the NFL's worst rushing attacks as a result. Things could improve, yet Ekwonu's struggles against top-flight defensive ends have been obvious.

In all likelihood, Ekwonu will not be benched. However, he has to prove he belongs on the team moving forward or else the Panthers will have to think about finding a replacement.

With so many quality defensive ends coming up on the schedule, we'll soon see if Ekwonu can be part of the solution.