What is the future of the Panthers offensive line?

The Panthers offensive line may be fine in 2025, but there are some future concerns that can’t go ignored

For a team who had rotated through decision makers who constantly preached a “building through the trenches” philosophy to team building, it was rare that the Carolina Panthers put their money where their mouth was. When Dan Morgan was promoted to General Manager and fans were once again promised that the building up the trenches was the number one goal for his first offseason, there wasn’t much confidence that it would actually happen.

Turns out he wasn’t lying. While the performance on the field might be debatable, Morgan’s first free agency affirmed his priorities as the team went out and spent over $150 million on the first day to bring in two above average guards. A couple desperately needed additions to firm up the interior of a line that rotated through double digit starters the season prior.

After those investments though, Morgan has yet to add any new consequential faces to the position group. No draft capital was spent on the offensive line during either of Morgan’s first two drafts and any money allocated for the offensive line in free agency in 2025 was spent to return the teams internal free agents.

In fairness, it was not for lack of trying. The Panthers brought in, or otherwise met with, plenty of lineman during the run up to the draft. In May, ESPN Insiders even noted “that if Mizzou right tackle Armand Membou was there [in the first round], the Panthers would have thought long and hard about it”. In the end though, the Panthers didn’t feel the need to force the issue and are relying on the returning group to continue their growth.

Time will tell if running it back with the same depth chart was the right decision for 2025, but if more investments do not start happening soon the Panthers might find themselves desperate and in trouble.

For the 2025 season, the Panthers are by far the biggest spenders on the offensive line thanks to the second years of Lewis and Hunt’s contracts combining for an over $36 million cap hit and the final year of tackle Taylor Moton’s contract accounting for another $31 million. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is in the NFL when you have not been able to draft and develop your own players – you’ve got to pay (or overpay) for guys other teams have developed.

So, where do the Panthers stand right now and what land mines are they going to have to maneuver going forward?

Right now, the Panthers have Lewis and Hunt locked down for the next 3 years at a fairly consistent price tag ballparked under $40 million combined each season. Should they continue to perform as they have over their careers so far, no one will be arguing over that price tag.

Among starters, the next long term option is Ikem Ekwonu, the 2022 6th overall pick who has had a relatively up and down career thus far but has been trending upward since a 2023 outing that left plenty to be desired. Ekwonu had one more year left on his original rookie contract but the team has already picked up his fifth year option for the 2026 season as well. While the hope and expectation is that Ekwonu will be the Panthers left tackle of the future, the jury is still out. While his prowess as a road grader is well noted, the player’s inconsistent pass protection and tendency to draw penalties at the most inopportune times can have fans holding their breath during key moments.

After Ekwonu, the long-term plans for the line are murky. The team seems content letting Moton’s contract run out after this year without an obvious plan to replace him. He may not have attended a pro bowl or appeared on an All Pro list, but the veteran has been the picture of reliability since taking over at right tackle. He’s been a top 15 right tackle year in and year out despite all the turmoil surrounding him. Should they chose to let him seek another large contract from another team next year, the void he’ll leave behind could be devastating. Time is running out to find a replacement for the franchise stalwart.

Swing tackle Yosh Nijman was brought in during the same free agent class as Hunt and Lewis, but was underwhelming in his limited reps. With only 1 year and $3 million left on his contract that would save the Panthers $1.6 million if cut from the roster, he might not be in process blue come September.

Some may say that 2020 draft pick Brady Christensen could be the right tackle in waiting, but I have my doubts. While Christensen has been okay filling in wherever need across the entire offensive line, he’s never been exceptional or even above average. On a good day he can hold his own, sometimes slightly more than that. But he’s already approaching 30 (turns 29 in September), while his short arms and slighter build don’t match the presumed prototype the current regime looks for, and is only on a one year contract. That’s far too many red flags to have confidence in the player going forward.

The one position on the offensive line that’s truly a competition is center. In 2024, Austin Corbett began the season as the starter but for a third season in a row succumbed to a season ending injury after only a handful of appearences. Corbett does not lack for talent, but his recent injury history makes his long-term outlook practically non-existent. Christensen spent a handful of games spot starting at center but lacks the girth to hold-up there full time. But behind door number 3 is Cade Mays, a 2022 day 3 draft pick that played center for the first time in the NFL last year and played well enough to be named PFF’s 22nd best center. No parades will be hosted for that accomplishment, but average was an upgrade for the Panthers and Mays fits the size profile. He fit in well and produced with the opportunity during the last half of the season so eyes should be on the 26 year old Mays’ development in 2025.

2023 4th round pick Chandler Zavala could have been a potential starting guard for the Panthers going forward, if not for the investments made in Hunt and Lewis. Still, despite a dismal rookie season he stayed the course and played well in relief of the two starting guards when the opportunity came – posting a 71.2 overall PFF grade on almost 200 snaps. Zavala’s role right now is to be the back-up for the starting guard duo for the next two years. After that, time will tell.

The Panthers line has made great strides, and has plenty of untapped potential. But the job of rebuilding the unit has not been done yet and forgoing further investment may lead them back to mediocrity if they can’t continue their streak of relatively solid investments.