Passing On QB In Round 1 Shows Panthers, Rhule Have Patience

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers owner David Tepper preached patience last week when it came to breaking the losing cycle and building a consistent winner.

Over the weekend, the Panthers stayed true to that plan.

Instead of reaching for a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick, Carolinaโ€™s big three decision-makers โ€” Tepper, general manager Scott Fitterer and coach Matt Rhule โ€” selected offensive tackle Ikem โ€œIckeyโ€ Ekwonu from North Carolina State, filling a less flashy but equally as important need when it comes to building sustained success.