Finding Panthers: Schuyler Callihan's Five Offensive Linemen to Watch at the Combine

Some names to watch in Indianapolis along the offensive line.

While it's unfortunate that the Carolina Panthers don't hold the rights to their first-round pick (1st overall selection), they'll still have the opportunity to address one of their biggest needs this offseason at the top of the second round, thanks to a deep offensive line class.

With the NFL Combine just around the corner, we identified five of those linemen that Panthers fans should keep a close eye on.

C Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon)

JPJ is widely regarded as the top center available in this draft. He checks every box from athleticism, pure strength, and the ability to control things up front. Centers rarely go in the first round, but there are a couple of teams, namely Philadelphia, who could be looking to take him. 

C Zach Frazier (West Virginia)

Frazier suffered a nasty leg injury in the regular season finale, but what he did on that play proves why he is going to have o-line coaches around the league pounding the table for him. With a minute on the clock and no timeouts, Frazier wrapped up his receiver and carried him to the first down marker to stop the clock, while injured, and then had the awareness to hobble off the field and avoid a 10-second runoff. He has a wrestling background and it shows on the tape.

C Sedrick Van Pran (Georgia)

Van Pran is a popular mock to the Panthers and it's easy to see why there is so much intrigue. He brings so much athleticism to the table and would allow for Carolina to be more diverse in its run schemes. Pretty solid in pass protection, but that would be the area he needs to show more consistency. 

OT Kingsley Suamataia (BYU)

If the Panthers were to seriously consider kicking Ikem Ekwonu inside to guard, Suamataia would be high on my list to replace him at left tackle. He has good length, lateral movement, and powerful hands - more of a natural left tackle compared to Ekwonu.

G Christian Haynes (UConn)

Haynes can be a bully in the run game and would bring the physicality to an offensive line that desperately needs it. He's my top pure guard in this draft and can either slide into the competition at left guard or sit and learn behind Austin Corbett and be his insurance for a year. 

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