The Panthers selected NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu with the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, but there were several scenarios in play for the Panthers with their pick, sources told MMQB’s Albert Breer.
Carolina reportedly had Mississippi State’s Charles Cross, NC State’s Ekwonu and Alabama’s Evan Neal as the top three offensive tackles on the draft board. The Panthers had two tackles above the third in their order of preference.
The plan was if one of the top two offensive tackles fell to Carolina at No. 6, the Panthers take him.