CHARLOTTE — From the time he was drafted sixth overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Ikem Ekwonu has been waiting for a year like this. A year with promise, consistency, and the offensive line, the young player knew he needed to elevate his own game.

The former unanimous All-American has been a part of offensive lines that were revolving doors for the past two years as the Panthers struggled to find any long-term plan at guard. It affected the entire unit, perhaps most of all the guy who was a rookie in 2022 and a second-year player under a whole new staff of coaches in 2023.

Then, this offseason, general manager Dan Morgan spent big money on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis.

"Obviously, Rob came in. Rob's personality shined early," laughed Ekwonu on Monday during the Panthers' end-of-season locker clean out, just minutes after Hunt himself crashed Ekwonu's interview. "But I feel like D-Lew took a little while to warm up to us a little bit. He was a little quiet, but once we got D-Lew laughing and joking in the room, I knew we were going to be solid."

They were more than solid, giving up 29 fewer sacks than the season before (65 to 36) and a unit average of 7.62 percent on quarterback pressures per drop-backs, according to Next Gen Stats. Having little turnover—Hunt and Lewis each played more than 91 percent of the snaps all season, while Ekwonu played 88 percent and Taylor Moton played 81.7 percent—allowed Ekwonu to grow his own game alongside veteran starters.

"It felt great," Ekwonu said. "I feel like with the O-line, we're really growing together, the chemistry is getting better, we're getting more connected on and off the field, and I feel like when you get guys like that just love being around each other, love playing for each other, you know that the unit's going to be that much stronger. Definitely excited to keep on with these guys."

Keeping on with them is in a bit of conversation this offseason. Ekwonu is heading into the final year of his rookie contract with an eye on a new deal. He's maintained that all those conversations are taking place between his agent and the Panthers front office, and he is staying out of them for now. One of the men in that conversation, though, is Morgan, who sees a unit with Ekwonu.

"Yeah, I think Ickey fits right in there," Morgan said on Monday. "We think a lot of Ickey, I think he's got better every single year. I think he made strides this season. I think (offensive line coach) Joe Gilbert and his staff have done a really good job with the O-line in general. So yeah, I see Ickey as a piece that we want around here for a long time."

While Ekwonu keeps himself out of those conversations, the emotions around the not knowing are inevitable.

"I mean, a lot of emotions," Ekwonu admitted. "I just feel like you go a lot of different ways, and I mean. Obviously, it's new territory for me, so I'm not really sure what to expect, but I mean, got some great guys in my corners to help me, help guide me through this, so I'm excited for it."

Being available is a huge factor in an offensive lineman's future. As a left tackle, though, Ekwonu's ability to protect quarterback Bryce Young's blind side in the game is of the utmost importance. After a 2023 season that saw his sack number double from his rookie season (giving up seven in 2022 versus 15.5 in 2023), he cut it in half again in 2024, only giving up seven sacks this season. All came in one-on-one assignments. He was also able to lower his quick quarterback pressure number this season as well, according to Next Gen Stats.

"I definitely feel like I took a step this year in the right direction," Ekwonu said. "Obviously, I'm going to be critical of myself. Definitely some work to be done still; the job's never finished, the job's never perfect, but definitely proud of the work I put in this year, definitely thankful for some of the guys in the coaching staff that came in to help me with my game a lot.

"Just being more consistent, being that left tackle that I need to be. Just protecting the blind side and just being more consistent in pass protection. That was my biggest goal this year and I feel, like I said, it's still work to be done, but I feel I took a big step forward."

Talking about Ekwonu's progression in the offense and the better play of the offensive line as a whole can't be done without acknowledging Young's progress. The second-year passer took a step forward in escaping the pocket when it was collapsing, stepping up in the pocket when there was time and space, and standing in there to deliver passes even when he knew a shot was coming.

"When you got a guy like that that's just rolling, and you just feel like he can do no wrong on the field, it's a good feeling being able to block for a guy like that, and just, yeah, it's exciting. It makes you feel good," bragged Ekwonu of his quarterback.

"I mean, I feel like we were running the ball really well, so obviously anytime we run the ball like that, and anytime that they can scheme that up with some of the nakeds we're running and some of the play action passes, I feel like the whole scheme kind of just fit our unit really well."

As the Carolina Panthers head into the offseason, a bit of stability around the coaching staff and front office for the first time in years, that feeling of certainty is also trickling onto the roster. It means that for the first time since he was drafted, Ikem Ekwonu is a part of a unit and a team that he can see himself flourishing under, an exciting prospect for the local kid.

Said Ekwonu, "I'm really looking forward to growing into that unit and growing into the process a little bit better."