We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!
There are 70 days until the first game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. Today’s piece looks focuses on a Panther draft pick entering his fifth year with the team, that’s number 70 Brady Christensen.
The Panthers made Christensen, a left tackle out of BYU, the 70th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has been a dependable and versatile player for a team whose leadership has been anything but during his time in Charlotte. Christensen has served a part time starter at left tackle, a full time starter at left guard (in 2022), and has played everything but right tackle since being drafted. He is just one of many players who has struggled to reach his ceiling between the inconsistent preachings of Matt Rhule, Frank Reich, and now Dave Canales. That is probably a large part of why Christensen ended up back with the Panthers on a one-year deal in free agency this year.
Since Canales’ tenure seems to be off to a better start than either of his most recent predecessors, Christensen probably feels like this is his best place to prove his value as, at least, a rotational piece that can start all five positions along the offensive line in a pinch. It’s that or the kid just really loves Charlotte.
Between his value as a third round pick, Ickey Ekwonu’s less than perfect performance as a first round pick, and the Panthers overall struggle to replace Jordan Gross, Christensen and his future with the Panthers has been the subject of consistent debate amongst the Panthers faithful. Where do you fall on his role with the Panthers? Is he the perfect utility guy to keep on the roster or is he the best value and/or bet to hold up the left tackle spot and protect Bryce Young’s blind side?