Michael Oher to the Carolina Panthers in Free Agency?

Reports have emerged on the Michael Oher front that the future Baltimore Ravens tackle might find a new home with the Carolina Panthers in Free Agency.

Per the always reliable Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, Oher to the Panthers is looking more likely after his recent visit with the team.

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It’s highly documented that the Panthers will need a tackle of the future with their current situation. As expected, starting left tackle Byron Bell won’t be back with the team in 2015, furthering Cam Newton’s chances of staying upright in 2015 — at least from the perspective of fans in Charlotte.

With Nate Chandler currently sitting in the “next man up” role, Carolina has an interesting situation to ponder over.

If they decide to go with Oher, they’ll need to be cautious with how they handle him. His struggles in Baltimore and, most recently, Tennessee couldn’t be ignored as the 28-year-old failed to deliver — there’s a reason he’s out on the market yet again.

If the Titans decide to go the more conventional route and take a tackle in the Draft, they’ll have to ensure they can get their guy in the first round. Despite being stacked at the top, the 2015 class for tackles is anything but a sure thing.

Many of our projections here at NFL Mocks have given Carolina a tackle at the top, a move that makes sense in many ways. They should be able to ensure grabbing a top-tier tackle at 25 — the question will become whether the players that are available are “their guy”.

Here’s what Tyler Ball, our friend over at CatCrave.com had to say:

"As a coach or GM, one of your top goals should be to keep the pressure off of your QB. If your QB is spending more time on his back, he is going to have a short career and Cam has already been damaged enough in his short time in the NFL. The Panthers’ staff need to take the pressure off of Newton, and Oher is the man to do that."

It’s hard to argue with Ball when it comes to the Newton angle. Despite having his fair share of critics, Oher may work well in Carolina.

The question isn’t becoming whether there’s a need to protect Newton — it’s figuring out who might be the man for the job.