When asked to share his gut feeling about the future of left tackle Jordan Gross, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera told media at the NFL Combine his stomach begins to hurt whenever a reporter brings up the subject. You can’t blame Rivera for feeling a little nauseous at the thought of going into a new season without the longest-tenured member of his already suspect offensive line.

But most signs from those around the team, including some of his teammates, indicate Gross is done, with an official retirement announcement coming as soon as this week. So unless the three-time Pro Bowler has a sudden change of heart, and gains back the weight he’s already lost since the playoff loss to the 49ers, the Panthers will go into a season without Gross as one of their starting tackles for the first time since 2003.

So how could the Panthers fill the void? Here’s an early look at some of their options:

With someone on the current roster: Let’s start with the unlikeliest scenario. Excluding Gross, the tackles on the roster at the end of the season were Byron Bell, Travis Bond, Bruce Campbell and Garry Williams. Bell was ok, at best, at right tackle in 2013; Bond dressed for two games; Campbell and Williams are both unrestricted free agents who ended the season on injured reserve. So to make matters worse, no Gross could mean the Panthers will be looking for two starting tackles.

EDIT (Feb. 25, 2014 at 4 p.m. ET): Since I was just going through tackles, I did not include third-year guard Nate Chandler above, but he could be an option. The converted defensive tackle started half the season at guard last year. He did better than most expected and he could go from former project to a starting tackle. But can’t see the Panthers being completely comfortable expecting him to be the answer at the most important position on the offensive line. 

Through the draft: Good news is tackle is one of the deepest position in this year’s draft. Bad news is the elite guys could be gone if the Panthers stay at No. 28 in the first round. Auburn’s Greg Robinson, Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews and Michigan’s Taylor Lewan may all be top-10 picks. But Notre Dame’s Zack Martin, Alabama’s Cyrus Kouandjio, Tennessee’s Antonio Richardson and Virginia’s Morgan Moses could be decent consolation prizes late in the first round. Kouandjio is especially interesting. He struggled at the Combine, and he reportedly failed some teams’ physicals, but if the Panthers cleared him medically, he could provide intriguing value. And if general manager Dave Gettleman proved anything in his first year in Carolina, it’s that he likes a bargain (see: Star Lotulelei and a handful of useful free agents). This draft is so loaded at tackle, the Panthers could grab one or two even after the first round. North Carolina’s James Hurst impressed in the Tar Heels’ season opener against potential top pick Jadeveon Clowney, but his stock tumbled after he broke his leg in the Belk Bowl. Hurst expects to be fully healthy by UNC’s Pro Day on March 25, so while he could have some sneaky value right now, that secret may get out if he crushes his Pro Day workouts.

Via free agency: Gettleman did a fantastic job in 2013 using free agency to find Band-Aids for his secondary, but it’s not clear if he’d be willing to do the same to protect quarterback Cam Newton’s blindside. Speaking of — Michael Oher should be available, but his movie was much better than his play the last few years. His Ravens teammate Eugene Monroe could arguably be the best tackle on the market, but the price tag for the soon-to-be 27 year old may be too rich for the Panthers’ blood. Same with Kansas City’s Branden Albert, so a guy with potentially better value like Cincinnati’s Anthony Collins could make more sense.

Whoever the Panthers bring in, no one will provide the leadership Gross did for so long. But to compete with the rest of the elite teams in the NFC, they have to make changes both in the lineup and in the locker room, even if those changes seem daunting on the surface.

The Carolina offense is about to undergo a big makeover, paving the way for Newton to take the reigns as THE leader. But Gettleman needs to make sure whatever Band-Aid he brings in to replace Gross is big and strong enough to protect the Panthers’ most precious possession.