For the Panthers’ second-year offensive lineman, a boost in confidence and mastery of the fundamentals have helped him jump into this season as he competes for a starting role on Carolina’s offensive line.
“I think my mental game has improved the most,” Christensen said. “My sets are a lot calmer; I’m not playing outside myself. I’m feeling more confident with everything.”
Christensen’s efforts appear to be paying off, and his developments garnered praise from Panthers head coach Matt Rhule through OTAs and minicamp.
Rhule went as far to call Christensen’s camp “tremendous.”
Perhaps the best news for Christensen is his versatility along the left side of the offensive line; Rhule said the staff could see him slotting in at left tackle, left guard, or even at center (though that’s more of a future plan than anything that appears imminent).
Christensen’s focus on the left side of the line comes after he started at both left and right tackle in various points as a rookie last year. He started in six games and appeared in 16 last season after he was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
“Brady’s ready to play left guard, left tackle,” Rhule said. “We talked about playing him at center at one point too. But we felt like at his development, two positions seemed like it was the right amount.”
Christensen said “a lot” was communicated with him when the Panthers added this year’s first-round draft pick Ikem Ekwonu, a tackle from NC State, with the sixth overall pick.
The final say on whether Christensen will go inside or remain at left tackle isn’t known, Rhule said. He said Panthers offensive line coach James Campen has kept combinations with the Panthers’ new-found offensive line depth “mixed up,” which has left the spot to be assigned, now that Ekwonu is in the mix.
But while Rhule said he doesn’t know who the Panthers’ starting left tackle will be yet (and much will be learned at training camp in Spartanburg), he said he is certain about Christensen’s ability.
“I just know that Brady is one of our better players on the team,” Rhule said. “Not just on the offensive line, but on the team. It’s about finding the right spot for him, but letting those other guys compete as well.”
Christensen said he’s been committed to improvement regardless of whether or not he’s at tackle or guard. He spent OTAs and minicamp studying concepts as much as particulars, focusing on the entire offensive scheme rather than just what the linemen are expected to do.
He said studying the offense as a whole has made him a better player – perhaps another one of those small things that could go a long way. But he’s also been prompted to learn multiple positions, so the deeper knowledge was also somewhat born out of necessity.
And when asked how open-ended the offseason had been for him, Christensen’s response focused on how studying the game has helped him improve.
“I’ve played a lot and enjoyed it,” Christensen said. “I don’t know where it’s going to end up next season, but (I’m) just trying to get better and get to know the offense inside and out.”
1 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
2 / 114
DT – 71 – Phil Hoskins
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
3 / 114
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
4 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
5 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
6 / 114
P – 6 – Johnny Hekker
LS – 44 – JJ Jansen
K – 5 – Zane Gonzalez
LS – 46 – Thomas Fletcher
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
7 / 114
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
8 / 114
C – 68 – Sam Tecklenburg
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
9 / 114
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
10 / 114
S – 21 – Jeremy Chinn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
11 / 114
CB – 23 – Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
12 / 114
QB – 14 – Sam Darnold
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
13 / 114
QB – 14 – Sam Darnold
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
14 / 114
QB – 14 – Sam Darnold
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
15 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
16 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
17 / 114
LB – 7 – Shaq Thompson
LB – 50 – Julian Stanford
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
18 / 114
LB – 50 – Julian Stanford
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
19 / 114
LB – 50 – Julian Stanford
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
20 / 114
G – 60 – Pat Elflein
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
21 / 114
G – 60 – Pat Elflein
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
22 / 114
WR – 2 – DJ Moore
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
23 / 114
WR – 2 – DJ Moore
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
24 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
25 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
26 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
27 / 114
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
28 / 114
RB – 30 – Chuba Hubbard
RB – 22 – Christian McCaffrey
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
29 / 114
RB – 30 – Chuba Hubbard
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
30 / 114
RB – 30 – Chuba Hubbard
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
31 / 114
LB – 57 – Damien Wilson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
32 / 114
WR – 18 – Andre Roberts
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
33 / 114
WR – 18 – Andre Roberts
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
34 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
35 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
36 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
37 / 114
RB – 33 – D’Onta Foreman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
38 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
39 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
40 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
41 / 114
CB – 35 – Kalon Barnes
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
42 / 114
CB – 35 – Kalon Barnes
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
43 / 114
LB – 55 – Cory Littleton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
44 / 114
LB – 40 – Brandon Smith
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
45 / 114
LB – 40 – Brandon Smith
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
46 / 114
DE – 98 – Marquis Haynes Sr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
47 / 114
OL – 64 – Cade Mays
QB – 9 – Matt Corral
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
48 / 114
OL – 64 – Cade Mays
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
49 / 114
T – 70 – Brady Christensen
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
50 / 114
WR – 88 – Terrace Marshall Jr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
51 / 114
WR – 88 – Terrace Marshall Jr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
52 / 114
T – 70 – Brady Christensen
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
53 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
54 / 114
WR – 12 – Shi Smith
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
55 / 114
DE – 46 – Amaré Barno
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
56 / 114
CB – 36 – Madre Harper
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
57 / 114
QB – 9 – Matt Corral
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
58 / 114
QB – 9 – Matt Corral
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
59 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
60 / 114
G – 63 – Austin Corbett
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
61 / 114
WR – 3 – Robbie Anderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
62 / 114
WR – 3 – Robbie Anderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
63 / 114
WR – 16 – Brandon Zylstra
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
64 / 114
CB – 24 – CJ Henderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
65 / 114
G – 63 – Austin Corbett
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
66 / 114
CB – 24 – CJ Henderson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
67 / 114
DT – 93 – Bravvion Roy
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
68 / 114
C/G – 56 – Bradley Bozeman
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
69 / 114
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
70 / 114
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
71 / 114
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
72 / 114
DE – 97 – Yetur Gross-Matos
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
73 / 114
DE – 97 – Yetur Gross-Matos
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
74 / 114
T – 79 – Ikem Ekwonu
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
75 / 114
T – 79 – Ikem Ekwonu
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
76 / 114
T – 79 – Ikem Ekwonu
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
77 / 114
DT – 99 – Matt Loannidis
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
78 / 114
DT – 99 – Matt Loannidis
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
79 / 114
CB – 8 – Jaycee Horn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
80 / 114
G – 65 – Dennis Daley
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
81 / 114
CB – 8 – Jaycee Horn
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
82 / 114
LB – 49 – Frankie Luvu
DE – 53 – Brian Burns
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
83 / 114
CB – 29 – Rashaan Melvin
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
84 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
85 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
86 / 114
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
87 / 114
RB – 41 – Spencer Brown
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
88 / 114
DT – 95 – Derrick Brown
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
89 / 114
DE – 92 – Darryl Johnson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
90 / 114
DE – 92 – Darryl Johnson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
91 / 114
DT – 48 – Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
92 / 114
DT – 48 – Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
93 / 114
DE – 96 – Austin Larkin
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
94 / 114
DT – 95 – Derrick Brown
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
95 / 114
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
96 / 114
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
97 / 114
CB – 26 – Donte Jackson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
98 / 114
T – 72 – Taylor Moton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
99 / 114
T – 72 – Taylor Moton
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
100 / 114
TE – 82 – Tommy Tremble
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
101 / 114
TE – 82 – Tommy Tremble
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
102 / 114
DB – 38 – Myles Hartsfield
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
103 / 114
WR – 17 – Rashard Higgins
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
104 / 114
WR – 17 – Rashard Higgins
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
105 / 114
DT – 54 – Daviyon Nixon
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
106 / 114
DT – 54 – Daviyon Nixon
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
107 / 114
DT – 54 – Daviyon Nixon
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
108 / 114
LB – 57 – Damien Wilson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
109 / 114
LB – 57 – Damien Wilson
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
110 / 114
G – 73 – Michael Jordan
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
111 / 114
G – 73 – Michael Jordan
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
112 / 114
S – 42 – Sam Franklin Sr.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
113 / 114
TE – 80 – Ian Thomas
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
114 / 114
TE – 80 – Ian Thomas
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
https://www.panthers.com/news/brady-christensen-panthers-offensive-line-versatility-2022
