BYU Players in the NFL: Carolina Panthers Mismanaged Brady Christensen’s 2024 Season
The Carolina Panthers have shuffled Brady Christensen across the entire offensive line. Despite his strong performance and versatility, the coaching staff mishandled his role throughout the season.
My passion lies in sports stories that link BYU football with the Carolina Panthers.
I contribute to Lawless Republic, focusing on BYU alumni in the NFL, while also writing for a Panthers-specific site. After relocating to North Carolina over two decades ago, I became a devoted fan of both BYU athletics and the Panthers.
This background gives me a unique perspective on how poorly the Panthers have managed Christensen’s career, and why I believe he should seek opportunities elsewhere in free agency.
.2024 Statistical Summary
17 games, 6 starts
399 offensive snaps (39%), 49 special teams snaps (10%)
PFF grades: 63.6 overall (28th of 64 centers), 56.1 pass blocking (49th), 70.7 run blocking (14th)
Brady Christensen’s Season Overview
The chaotic Panthers organization has employed five head coaches, including interims, during Christensen’s four-year career. Selected 70th overall in the 2021 draft, the BYU product has started games at every offensive line position: left tackle, right tackle, both guard spots, and center.
Christensen played in 33 games with 23 starts in his first two seasons but managed just one game in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury. In 2024, Carolina’s offseason acquisitions of guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis relegated him to a backup role.
When starting center Austin Corbett suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5 of 2024, Christensen stepped in and adapted well to a position he had never played before. He started the next five games, helping breakout running back Chuba Hubbard thrive, before being inexplicably benched.
Aside from a Week 15 spot start, Christensen played only 17 offensive snaps in the Panthers’ final eight games.
The team opted for Cade Mays, a 2022 sixth-round pick, over Christensen. Mays, waived by Carolina earlier in 2024, rejoined the team off the Giants’ practice squad in October. With both players on expiring contracts, it’s puzzling that Mays received priority.
What the Future Holds
As a die-hard Panthers fan, it pains me to say this, but I hope Christensen leaves for better opportunities in free agency. Carolina’s 2025 offensive line is largely set, and the current staff has indicated a preference for Mays over Christensen at center. If Christensen stays, it will likely be as a backup.
Still, the future remains bright for the versatile BYU alum.
Christensen’s ability to play every offensive line position makes him an asset for any NFL team in need of quality depth or a reliable starter. If I were his agent, I’d target teams like the Patriots, Seahawks, or Titans—franchises that value strong run blockers with positional flexibility.
Despite the turmoil in Carolina, Christensen has built an impressive NFL resume. Here’s hoping he finds the right team in 2025 and continues to thrive in the league.