An ickey dilemma
Ikem Ekwonu for the Panthers.
Since Jordan Gross’s departure nearly a decade ago, the Panthers have struggled to find stability at left tackle. They’ve tried everything: throwing big money at Matt Kalil, experimenting with Byron Bell simply because he was “left-handed,” signing Michael Oher (a.k.a. “The Blind Side” protector), and finally using a top-ten draft pick on the position. When Ikem Ekwonu was drafted, many—including myself—viewed him as a dynamic, Pro Bowl-level left guard. However, the organization had other plans.
They kept Ekwonu at left tackle, the position he played during his junior year at NC State. In that draft, they passed on Evan Neal and Charles Cross. So far, it’s safe to say he’s performed better than Neal, though there’s a legitimate debate between him and Cross.
Ekwonu avoided the infamous “Robert Gallery issue.” Gallery, the surefire pick out of Iowa in 2004, went second overall (ahead of Larry Fitzgerald) and was expected to be the next great left tackle, following in the footsteps of Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden. Unfortunately, Gallery’s short arm length allowed defenders to engage him before he could make contact. While he transitioned to guard and had a solid career, he didn’t live up to the expectations of being the second overall pick.
Ekwonu didn’t have this problem. At the NFL Combine, his arm length measured a respectable 34 inches. While he’s slightly shorter than the prototypical left tackle at 6’4”, players like Brad Hopkins (6’3”) thrived at the position for over a decade with the Oilers and Titans.
After Ekwonu’s rookie year, things appeared to be trending upward. It looked like the Panthers had finally stabilized the left tackle position. Yes— he had some struggles, but that was expected. Then came his second season, which was nothing short of a disaster. That’s not unusual—teams now had film on him, and as a wise friend once said, “Year two is always the hardest.”
That brings us to year three and the path forward. This season was an improvement over the previous one, but the question now is what to do as the Panthers head into year four of Ekwonu’s career. With a fifth-year option looming, the decision isn’t difficult, in my opinion. The Panthers should pick up the option, keeping him under team control for at least two more years. During that time, they should work toward a long-term deal.
Let’s be clear: I love the Wolfpacker, but he isn’t worth Trent Williams money. He is, however, worth top-15 to top-20 tackle money, if for no other reason than his versatility. Don’t forget that the longtime stalwart at right tackle currently carries a $31 million cap hit heading into next season. An average left tackle could potentially be an excellent right tackle.
The bottom line is that the Panthers should secure a long-term deal with Ekwonu. With so many holes on defense, the team can’t afford to create another problem by moving on from a serviceable left tackle. He may not accept what the team offers, but they have to try.