NFL Draft 2022: 5 best picks of the first round

TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 5: Defensive End Jermaine Johnson II #11 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Fighting Irish defeated the Seminoles 41 to 38 OT. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

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Oct 30, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) warms up prior to a game against the Louisville Cardinals at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Ikem Ekwonu to Panthers at No. 6

The Panthers don’t have a second or third-round pick at their disposal this season, so they had to nail their No. 6 selection in Round 1. Carolina successfully avoided the temptation to reach for a quarterback and landed the top offensive tackle on their board instead.

Ekwonu isn’t the most polished pass blocker in this year’s class but he’s nothing short of a freak when it comes to quickness and run blocking. He will walk right into Carolina as their starting left tackle when Week 1 arrives.

His arrival should do wonders to kick start the Panthers’ run game. New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo wants to establish a dominant ground game and Ekwonu can help him do that from the perimeter. The former NC State star has an uncanny ability to get to the second level to make blocks that should do wonders for Christian McCaffrey next season.

Drafting Ekwonu isn’t going to transform Carolina’s offense on its own, but it does solve the unit’s second-biggest need in an emphatic fashion. Matt Rhule still needs to find a new starting quarterback, but landing Ekwonu drastically improves the odds of that signal-caller staying upright for a full 17-game slate.

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