The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South and a first-round playoff game in 2014. But the Panthers also finished below .500 overall and definitely have some holes that need to be filled via the draft.
Wide receiver and offensive tackle would seem to be the Panthers' biggest needs -- drafting one would give quarterback Cam Newton more weapons and drafting the other would help keep Newton upright.
On Thursday night's "Path to the Draft" show on NFL Network, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah described the Panthers' offensive tackle situation as "awful," and he said picking Miami (Fla.) tackle Ereck Flowers with the 25th overall pick would be a good move.
Coincidentally, Jeremiah has Flowers as his No. 25 overall prospect.
Jeremiah called Flowers (6-foot-6 1/4, 329 pounds) "a big, physical, dominating run blocker." Jeremiah said Flowers "needs to get a little bit better, technique-wise, in pass protection."
Flowers was a part-time starter at right tackle as a true freshman in 2012 before moving to the left side in 2013 and becoming a full-time starter. Some analysts see him as a better fit on the right side -- at least initially -- in the NFL. "He will be an upgrade at right tackle" for the Panthers, Jeremiah said. "To be honest with you, he's better than anything they got at left tackle, too."
Fellow analyst Mike Mayock has said he sees Flowers -- who is Mayock's No. 4 tackle -- as a future Pro Bowl player on the right side.
Newton is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, but the Panthers still allowed 42 sacks in 2014. In addition, Carolina had just 10 rushing touchdowns.
Flowers -- who had 37 reps in the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine, the most of any player -- missed one game in 2014 after minor knee surgery, which ended a streak of 21 consecutive starts.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
