2020 NFL Draft: 5 players Panthers could take in Round 1

3. Mekhi Becton

The team’s decision to trade for Okung gives them a quality starter at left tackle in 2020. He is not, however, the long-term answer at the position for Carolina. Drafting Becton would give the Panthers a potential Pro Bowl tackle to build around.

It’s no secret that the former Louisville star is one of the biggest prospects in this year’s draft. Six-foot-seven lineman who can move like tight ends are very rare. That’s a description that fits Becton to a tee.

The question is whether or not his football skills will ever catch up with his natural athletic ability. He flashed dominant moments at Louisville, but his performance level waxed and waned at times. Any NFL team that wants to spend a first round pick on his services will trust their coaching staff’s ability to increase his level of consistency.

Rhule is a head coach who has the luxury of waiting on a first round pick to really come into his own. If he and his front office see Becton as a potential Pro Bowler, then they can select him ahead of more accomplished tackle prospects in Round 1. He would represent a big swing for the Panthers, but their roster desperately needs star power.