Branden Bowen
Bowen (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) is no stranger to challenging situations. He immediately made an impact on the offensive line as a freshman at Ohio State in 2016 and was named a starter for 2017, but the standout right guard suffered a horrific leg injury that held him out of the rest of that season and the entirety of the next one, too. After undergoing multiple surgeries, Bowen started 13 games at right tackle in 2019, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors and proving his versatility. Bowen has opened up about his struggles, describing how the process gave him a “much deeper appreciation for the game of football.”
If Bowen doesn’t survive the final cuts to make the 53-man roster, he may be a strong candidate for one of Carolina’s four protected practice squad positions.