Have the Carolina Panthers Already Targeted Their Next Left Tackle?

The Carolina Panthers' No. 1 priority during the offseason will be to upgrade the left tackle position and protect Cam Newton's blind side. The organization already has its eye on a top left tackle prospect in the 2015 NFL draft. 

LSU's La'el Collins let it slip during Senior Bowl week the Panthers inquired about him through his former college teammate, Trai Turner. 

Turner is now the Panthers starting right guard, and Collins could eventually rejoin him as a starting offensive lineman for Carolina. 

“I haven’t (spoken to the Panthers), but Trai has told me that their offensive line coach (John Matsko) has asked a lot about me,” Collins told the Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Jones last Tuesday. “It’s another great opportunity.”

Obviously, things could and should have changed in the following week. The Panthers' scouting staff assuredly spoke with Collins at some point during his time in Mobile, Alabama. 

The initial interest in Collins' services prior to the the Senior Bowl only confirms the Panthers' strong desire to address the position with the team's first-round selection in April's NFL draft. 

That interest stems from an inherent need to protect the franchise's investment in Newton. 

Last season, the quarterback battled through ankle, rib and back injuries. While the back issues weren't caused by anything that happened on the gridiron, the quarterback still took a beating in recent years due to his style of play and a declining offensive line. 

When the Panthers finished 12-4 in 2013, the Panthers' left side consisted of Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton, a pair of consummate professionals who were two of the best in the business. 

The 2014 season, however, was completely different. 

Right tackle Byron Bell moved to the blind side, while an undrafted free agent from Ohio State, Andrew Norwell, eventually became the permanent starter at left guard. 

The results weren't positive, particularly at left tackle.

Of the quarterbacks that dropped back to pass more than 500 times this past season, Newton was the sixth-most pressured. 

Player	Team	Dropbacks	Sacks	Pressure %
Russell Wilson	Seahawks	546	40	46.0
Ryan Tannehill	Dolphins	645	45	38.3
Colin Kaepernick	49ers	578	51	37.2
Andrew Luck	Colts	680	27	36.2
Alex Smith	Chiefs	545	44	36.0
Cam Newton	Panthers	519	38	35.5

Bell never appeared completely comfortable at left tackle. He was easily outmatched by more athletic pass-rushers, and it showed. Pro Football Focus graded 84 different offensive tackles during the 2014 season. Bell finished 83rd overall with a minus-33.4 grade. 

Left tackle remains ones of the primary building blocks for an NFL franchise. Even with concerns at wide receiver, the offensive line should easily receive higher prioritization which means it will be either be addressed in free agency or the draft. 

The Panthers own the 25th overall pick in the first round and acquiring a left tackle they desire isn't guaranteed.  

There are even questions marks that surround Collins as a prospect and the entire offensive tackle class. 

It starts with an ability to play that valuable left tackle position. 

At 6'4" and 308 pounds with 33-inch arms, the three-year starter doesn't possess the type of size or length preferred in NFL left tackles. There are also questions about Collins' overall athleticism and how effective he can be against the NFL's best pass-rushers. 

Some teams will project Collins as a right tackle or even guard. 

Not everyone agrees with that assessment, though. 

Draft TV's Shane P. Hallam believes Collins is an elite offensive line prospect that presents versatility: 

Whereas, Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko thinks teams should give Collins a chance at left tackle before they make the decision he can't play the position: 

The argument for Collins playing left tackle is often accompanied with a favorable impression of his technique. In essence, there is a belief Collins could get away with less-than-ideal athleticism at left tackle as long as he remains a high-level technician. 

The problem with that line of thinking is that no prospect, particularly along the offensive line, is truly refined. Each needs work on the nuances of the position that allows these prospects to eventually reach their true potential. 

Collins is no different.

The left tackle's hand placement is an issue, as highlighted on Twitter by OL Watchdog: 

The LSU product did express a willingness to play whatever position a team asks of him. 

“(Left tackle or left guard) doesn’t matter to me,” Collins told NewOrleansSaints.com's John DeShazier. “I’m just fitting in where I need to be, but I’m trying to get better at left tackle.

“You’ve just got to be ready to be able to fit in wherever you need to be. A guy like me, I feel I can play inside and outside so I look to fit in wherever they need me.”

The entire offensive tackle class suffers from the same issue as Collins. There isn't a slam-dunk elite left tackle among the bunch. 

Iowa's Brandon Scherff is generally regarded as the best all-around offensive line prospect and a likely top-15 pick, yet he isn't viewed as a pure left tackle prospect. Stanford's Andrus Peat has plenty of natural ability, but his technique requires refinement, which will slow his progress as a blind-side protector. Pitt's T.J. Clemmings only has two years of experience as an offensive lineman at right tackle. And Miami's Ereck Flowers plays far too top heavy. 

These are the top offensive tackle prospects for April's draft. Each of them is generally projected to be selected at some point in the first round, yet none of them are ideal left tackle prospects. Most of them might not even play the position once they're in the NFL. 

As such, the Panthers could potentially draft their next left tackle based purely on upside. If they like Collins enough, the organization may have to manipulate the draft in order to obtain his rights. 

Collins' availability for the 25th overall pick is tenuous at best. 

In Bleacher Report's post-Senior Bowl mock drafts, national lead writer Michael Schottey projected Collins as the eighth overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons. Featured columnist Dan Hope didn't have LSU's left tackle falling much further when he landed to the Minnesota Vikings with the 11th overall selection.

The Panthers don't have to wait until the draft to address left tackle, though. 

Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga, Tennessee Titans veteran Michael Roos and San Diego Chargers left tackle King Dunlap should all be available during free agency and would prove to be upgrades at the position.

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman can then consider drafting a developmental left tackle prospect like Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi, Penn State's Donovan Smith or Utah's Jeremiah Poutasi in the later rounds. 

Collins, however, will remain an intriguing option for the Panthers until he's officially off the draft board.

The important conclusion to draw from the team's interest in the left tackle is the Panthers are clearly placing a heavy emphasis on upgrading their left tackle position.

Brent Sobleski covers the NFC South for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.