Guard position expected to be free-agent priority for Panthers

Often times in the NFL, availability is the best ability. And unfortunately for the Carolina Panthers and rookie quarterback Bryce Young, their guards were frighteningly unavailable in 2023.

The organization, however, will probably look to fix that—as two post-combine reports from Sunday morning indicated that the Panthers are motivated to fortify the interior of their offensive line. Joseph Person of The Athletic wrote the following in his closing thoughts from this year’s scouting combine:

League sources said the Panthers are interested in adding at least one guard this offseason and the position will be a free-agent priority — a nod to Bryce Young’s 5-foot-10 stature but also a response to an absurd number of injuries or inconsistent play at the position in 2023.

ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler seconded that feeling, stating that Carolina is amongst a handful of teams—along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and New York Jets—that “really need guard help.”

The Panthers began the campaign without starting right guard Austin Corbett, who was still recovering from an ACL tear from the 2022 finale. While he eventually hit the field in Week 7, another knee injury would end his year after just four outings.

Carolina’s front also lost their other starting guard, Brady Christensen, just one game into the season. The third-year lineman sustained a biceps injury in the 2023 opener against the Atlanta Falcons and did not return.

By year’s end, the Panthers started six different players at left guard and seven different players at right guard.

2023 LG/RG continuity challenges visualized. pic.twitter.com/AdBXi7X1Dt

— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) February 14, 2024

In addition, Young would be sacked a total of 62 times—the second-highest mark in the entire NFL.