North Charlotte Today

From the time he was drafted sixth overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Ikem Ekwonu has been anticipating a year like this. The young player needed a year with promise and consistency to elevate his game on the offensive line.

Ekwonu, a former unanimous All-American, has been part of offensive lines that struggled for stability over the past two years as the Panthers searched for a long-term plan at guard. This instability affected the entire unit, especially Ekwonu, who was adjusting as a rookie in 2022 and then under new coaching staff in 2023.

During this offseason, general manager Dan Morgan invested significantly in guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. "Obviously, Rob came in. Rob's personality shined early," said Ekwonu during the Panthers' end-of-season locker clean out. "But I feel like D-Lew took a little while to warm up to us." The improved lineup allowed them to give up 29 fewer sacks than the previous season and maintain an average of 7.62 percent on quarterback pressures per drop-backs.

"It felt great," Ekwonu expressed about their progress. He emphasized the growing chemistry within the team and how it strengthened their performance on and off the field.

Ekwonu is entering the final year of his rookie contract with hopes for a new deal. While these discussions are ongoing between his agent and the Panthers front office, Morgan stated, "Yeah, I think Ickey fits right in there...I see Ickey as a piece that we want around here for a long time."

Despite staying out of contract negotiations himself, Ekwonu admitted feeling various emotions about his future. His performance this season demonstrated improvement by halving his sack numbers from last year.

"I definitely feel like I took a step this year in the right direction," Ekwonu said about his personal development and contributions to protecting quarterback Bryce Young's blind side.

Young's own progression also played a role in improving offensive line performance. Ekwonu praised Young's ability to adapt under pressure: "When you got a guy like that that's just rolling...it's exciting."

As they head into offseason planning with some stability around coaching staff and front office, Ekwonu looks forward to flourishing within this environment: "I'm really looking forward to growing into that unit."