The Carolina Panthers’ decision to forego selecting a centre in the 2024 NFL Draft is one of the surprises, given that Zach Frazier and Jackson Powers-Johnson both fell well into the second round. They chose to add to the running back room by picking Jonathan Brooks from Texas, who became the first running back picked in the class, rather than taking a future starter there.
Austin Corbett can move from guard to centre, as head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan both stated before the draft. Their decision to not select one in the draft confirms this.
Indeed, as I believe I mentioned previously, we are quite happy with Austin Corbett starting at centre,” Morgan remarked following the draft. “I believe he’s making good progress, and I believe Dave (Canales) would concur with you guys. He’s been getting some snaps at centre, I believe, along with Brady Christensen. We think he has a great deal of promise there as well, you know. Although we are pleased with it, we will continue to strive to improve and invigorate our roster in order to foster competition. Nothing will be left behind, and the door will remain open for others to enter as well.”
Corbett has experience playing center in the NFL, specifically with the Cleveland Browns. He has been practicing in that position for years, so it’s not a huge adjustment for him. His main focus is on staying healthy, as he has previously suffered season-ending knee injuries. Although he seems to have recovered well, there is still some concern about his durability. The team is considering adding another center during the summer as a backup option.
