Examining a Few Options for the Panthers at Center
The Carolina Panthers are planning to release veteran center Bradley Bozeman at the start of the new league year and will need to find a new leader to spearhead the offensive line.
Here are a few different options the Panthers could go with.
Brian Allen
Allen is a quality football player, but the main concern is the long injury history. He suffered an ACL, MCL, and meniscus tear in his second year in the league, had a torn UCL in his right elbow in 2021, and dealt with knee and thumb injuries this past season. I don't see Allen getting a long-term deal or a ton of money, but could be a decent placeholder and if he can stay healthy, it's a win-win. Plus, he has experience playing with right guard Austin Corbett.
Evan Brown
Brown is a versatile veteran that has started a number of games at guard, but primarily at center. He is a Seahawk, but did not spend anytime with Dave Canales. Brown was only in Seattle this past season. This is more of a combo signing where if the Panthers find a center they like in the draft they could conceivably insert him into the competition at guard while serving as the backup guard.
The draft
I'm a huge proponent for selecting West Virginia's Zach Frazier at No. 33 and for a bevy of reasons. However, he's not the only intriguing center prospect in this draft class. Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon), Sedrick Van Pran (Georgia), and Drake Nugent (Michigan) are a few others who stand out.
