Tag: Ikem Ekwonu

Ikem Ekwonu named Panthers’ most important non-QB

Who is the most important non-QB on the Panthers’ roster? Maybe it’s the guy who’s tasked with protecting the QB.

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Excluding the quarterback, which Carolina Panther is the team’s most important player? How about the guy who protects him?

Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman recently named the most important non-quarterback for each NFL team. For the Panthers, he settles on left tackle Ikem Ekwonu—who has the massive responsibility of protecting the franchise’s blindside.

Wasserman writes:

Many are worried that Bryce Young won’t last in the NFL due to his slight frame. His left tackle, Ikem Ekwonu, is the man who can put those concerns to rest.

Ekwonu had a decent rookie season, playing every snap at left tackle and grading out at 65.3 overall. He had a couple of rough games in protection but also showed flashes of his massive talent, posting an 80.0-plus pass-blocking grade in four games. He was also occasionally dominant as a run blocker, demonstrated in part by his 96.1 run-blocking grade against San Francisco. Ekwonu could be one of the breakout stars in the NFL this year.

The Panthers eagerly selected Ekwonu with the sixth overall pick of last year’s draft, and he’d proceed to show us exactly why. In addition to those impressive grades, the local product displayed consistent signs of growth while playing in every single offensive snap for Carolina in 2022.

And now, he has the job of keeping this year’s first-round selection in on every snap in 2023.

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‘Madden NFL 24’ ratings for Panthers offensive linemen revealed

Here’s how the Panthers’ hog mollies are stacking up in the “Madden NFL 24” ratings:

For the first time in some time, the Carolina Panthers seem to have an offensive line they can rely upon. But do the folks over at EA Sports feel the same way?

Here are the “Madden NFL 24” ratings for the team’s offensive linemen:

Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu amongst 20 candidates who could make 1st Pro Bowl

Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu was named one of 20 players who could be primed to make their first Pro Bowl appearance this season.

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It’s clear—from numerous outlets, analysts and prediction posts—that Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is thought to be on the rise in 2023. But will he rise all the way up to all-star status?

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently surveyed the league for 20 players who could be primed to make their first Pro Bowl this upcoming season. Ekwonu, as a major piece in a growing core, makes Benjamin’s list of 20 candidates:

“Ickey” proved up to the task as the Panthers’ top draft pick in 2022, standing firm for a slew of middling QBs. Now, with Bryce Young as his signal-caller, Ekwonu’s poised to headline an offense on the rise in a very winnable NFC South.

The 2022 sixth overall pick, who played in every offensive snap for Carolina, had himself a solid rookie campaign. After relinquishing three sacks between his first pair of starts—two of which coming courtesy of Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett—he was charged with just three more over his final 15 outings.

Now, Ekwonu has an actual franchise quarterback to protect. So we’ll see if he’s up to the test and up to the Pro Bowl nod come next winter.

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Panthers offensive line lands in top half of PFF’s 2023 rankings

The Panthers’ offensive line made a hog molly-sized jump up PFF’s offseason rankings.

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Started from the bottom, now they’re here. (And by “here,” we don’t mean the very top—at least not yet.)

Pro Football Focus lead NFL analyst Sam Monson recently released his rankings of the NFL’s 32 offensive lines. Coming in at No. 16, after ranking 24th on this very list in 2022, are the Carolina Panthers.

Monson included the following notes about the ascending hog mollies:

– Carolina is another team banking on internal development and stability paying dividends. The unit climbed from 31st in the rankings to the fringes of the top 10 last season.

– Brady Christensen will be on the hot seat after earning a 57.3 PFF grade last year, but rookie Chandler Zavala is now there to provide competition.

– Taylor Moton allowed just 21 pressures in 17 games and remains one of the best pass-protecting right tackles in football.

Moton, however, will likely not be joined by his fellow starter in guard Austin Corbett on that right side to start the season. Corbett, who is recovering from a torn ACL, is expected to miss time to kick off 2023.

Carolina does, however, have some depth that can hold it down. That right guard position could be manned by Zavala, Christensen, free-agent signing Justin McCray, Cade Mays or Michael Jordan.

The competition for the spot, and the one on the other side of center Bradley Bozeman, will really amp up in about six weeks.

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Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu named ‘guaranteed riser’ for 2023 season

One NFL columnist put a firm guarantee on the rise of Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu this upcoming season.

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Quite a few league experts have already earmarked Ikem Ekwonu as a breakout candidate for the upcoming campaign. But have any of them guaranteed it?

Well, at least one has—NFL.com contributing columnist Adam Schein.

Schein recently named 10 players he believes will definitely be on the rise in 2023. In at No. 9 is last year’s No. 6:

Ekwonu looked like a rookie early last season, but the No. 6 overall pick progressed over the course of Year 1, going one 10-game stretch without giving up a sack. He has the tenacity and tools to become a star on the blind side, especially with new leadership guiding his way.

I love the Panthers’ new coaching staff. Frank Reich is a gem. Overall, the offensive staff is experienced and filled with high-character teachers. This is not only a godsend to rookie QB Bryce Young, but also to the man tasked with protecting the No. 1 overall pick. Ekwonu has the makeup and tutelage to emerge as one of the elite tackles in the game right now.

The young hog molly did go through a rough start to his NFL career, having allowed three sacks in his first two games. But it was a brief bump, as Ekwonu was charged with three sacks over the next 15 outings to close out his rookie year.

Perhaps more impressively, Ekwonu played in each of the team’s 1,016 offensive snaps. That complete body of work earned him a solid 65.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus—a number that should, based on Schein’s bold affirmation, be on the rise in 2023.

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Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu: Bryce Young’s development is ‘very impressive’

Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu: The moment’s never too big for Bryce Young

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On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers bumped this year’s No. 1 pick up to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart—a move last year’s No. 1 pick is quite familiar with.

Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu spoke with reporters following today’s session of organized team activities, one where quarterback Bryce Young began on first-team reps. The 2022 sixth overall selection was asked about the growth of both the offense and Young.

“Yeah, Bryce has been great,” he said. “He’s been developing really fast. Taking command of that huddle early. Just definitely excited to see his development more and more. Excited to see him grow. Yeah, he picked it up really fast. Definitely very impressive.”

Ekwonu went through a similar jump last offseason. Despite being the obvious solution to an obvious area of need, the Panthers tasked the local product with “earning” his starting spot on the blindside.

And now that both seemingly have, Ekwonu sounded ready to keep it moving with his new client.

“Same guy every day,” he added of Young’s demeanor. “Calm, collected. He never really gets rattled out there no matter what’s going on with practice. The moment’s never too big, I can see that.”

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NFC South roundtable: Which 2nd-year players will break out in 2023?

Our NFL South managing editors highlighted four second-year players who are primed for breakouts this season.

Which NFC South sophomores are set to establish themselves this upcoming season?

Join in with us, River Wells of Bucs Wire, Matt Urben of Falcons Wire and John Sigler of Saints Wire as we pick four 2023 breakout candidates from the division.

Panthers OT Ikem Ekwonu named to 2023 NFL All-Breakout Team

NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks named Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu to his 2023 All-Breakout Team.

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Bucky Brooks may have had an ear on Carolina Panthers offensive line coach James Campen about a week and a half ago.

The NFL.com analyst recently named his 2023 NFL All-Breakout Team, assembling a lineup of players who he believes are poised to step into the forefront this season. Amongst those listed was Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who Brooks thinks could be headed towards domination:

Franchise left tackles are expected to dominate on the blind side from the first snap to the final whistle. Ekwonu showed flashes of brilliance as a 17-game starter in Year 1. From his ability to maul defenders as a run blocker to his anchor and mirror skills in pass protection, Ekwonu displayed the raw tools that made him the No. 6 overall pick in last year’s draft. Now it’s about providing consistent dominance. Given an entire offseason to refine and polish his technique under the watchful eye of offensive line guru James Campen, the 6-4 320-pounder could vie for individual honors with a leap from good to great in Year 2.

Fancy seeing Jim here—as just 10 days ago, the beloved position coach shared that exact sentiment. Campen, during his post-practice presser two Wednesdays ago, said that his unit’s continuity is the key to their growth.

“He [Ekwonu] is so far ahead of where he was last year, and that’s a testament to him,” he told reporters. “He’d done work in the offseason before coming back. … He’s sitting on the line. He’s fluid. He’s asking for change-up things to do with his hands. He’s way ahead of where he was last year.”

Last year, Ekwonu wrapped up his rookie campaign having allowed six sacks over 522 chances. And maybe, with a little more of that growth, that number will shrink while the individual honors rise.

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Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu: Linemen are 100 percent behind pick of Bryce Young

Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu told Joe Person of The Athletic that he and the rest of the team’s hog mollies are “100 percent” behind the selection of QB Bryce Young.

Pancakes weren’t the only item some of the Carolina Panthers’ hog mollies were cooking up on Friday.

Thoughts of a savory offense were brewing during part of this year’s Keep Pounding Day, where four of the team’s linemen were serving breakfast to residents of MerryWood on Park assisted living center. On the scene was Joe Person of The Athletic, who spoke to a hopeful Ikem Ekwonu about No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.

“Everything we can do to ease that transition, we’re gonna do it,” Ekwonu said. “Offensive linemen (are) 100 percent behind the choice at quarterback. So we’re excited and ready to work.”

Fellow starter Brady Christensen had a similar sentiment to the choice, stating that the 5-foot-10, 204-pound passer will be just fine if they give him the time.

“I think it’s a great plan,” he said. “As a rookie quarterback, it’s a tough gig. If we can just give him time so he can do his thing, it’s gonna be incredible. … I feel like some of those rookie quarterbacks, they’re not in the perfect situation. But I feel like (Young) is coming in and really (has) a lot of talent around him to help him out, so he’s not trying to do it all himself.”

The Panthers’ braintrust has worked towards that exact setup this offseason, having put the pieces in place for Young well ahead of his arrival. Not only did Carolina beef up their receiving room with the likes of Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and Hayden Hurst, but they also signed 12-year veteran Andy Dalton to ease the jump.

So now that the linemen are behind Young, they’ll just have to get used to being in front of him for the next handful of years.

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Panthers OT Ikem Ekwonu definitely approves of Chandler Zavala pick

With the Panthers’ selection of NC State G Chandler Zavala, Ikem Ekwonu is no longer a one-man wolf pack.

Ikem Ekwonu is no longer a one-man wolf pack.

On Saturday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers added the second North Carolina State University product to their roster—drafting guard Chandler Zavala with the 114th pick of the 2023 NFL draft. And, suffice to say, his new (and former) teammate is touched.

Ekwonu and Zavala played side-by-side in Raleigh during the 2021 campaign—with the former at left tackle and the latter at left guard. That season, before Ickey became the sixth overall pick of the 2022 draft, saw Chandler play in 339 offensive snaps over five games.

2022 would be a much busier year for Zavala, and not just because Ickey went to Charlotte. He continued to man the left guard spot for 12 outings—allowing just three hurries, one quarterback hit and zero sacks on 422 pass-blocking snaps.

But now, Zavala rejoins his left-hand guy in Ekwonu—who is, obviously, ready to howl with his pal once again.

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