Panthers draft offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, a high-upside player, but his exact role on the crowded line remains an open question.
The Carolina Panthers decided to go with the best player available rather than take a guaranteed Week 1 starter with the No. 19 pick.
The Panthers selected Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with their first-round pick. Freeling will join an offensive line that already has Taylor Morton, Ikem Ekwonu, and Rasheed Walker.
That means Freeling might be battling for the swing-tackle position in training camp, and it's possible he might not make the cut for the 46-man active roster on game days.
During his news conference on Thursday night, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said he wasn't sure if Monroe would play at right or left tackle in the league.
"We're really excited about Monroe," Morgan said, via the Panthers. "Best player on our board, big, long, athletic, physical, a guy with high upside that we're extremely excited about.
"Adding him to our room, you know, I think he can play left side, he can play right side, brings a lot of value to us. So, yeah, we're really excited. Best player on our board."
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monroe would be in a position to compete for a role on the team before the regular season.
He noted offensive line coach Joe Gilbert and run game coordinator Harold Goodwin are excited to get to develop Monroe.
"It's amazing to have that flexibility, you talked about Joe and Goody, two guys that I really trust who are really wondering if I didn't like them because we hadn't selected any linemen in the last couple of drafts," Canales said.
"But no, they're fired up and it works out really well, especially when you bring in a young player, because he's really got his personal tutor, you know, and Joe does such an excellent job and did that in Tampa as well, and he's going to be all hands on deck and be really involved with Monroe's development."
The Panthers’ situation on the offensive line gives the team some flexibility this season. Monroe can develop behind veterans before being asked to step in to start.
As injuries start to hit during the regular season, Monroe could be asked to take on a larger role for a team that is looking to make the playoffs for a second season in a row.