If the Carolina Panthers want to secure a multi-year contract with offensive tackle Taylor Moton, the time to act is now. The organization has until 4:00 p.m. ET Thursday to get Moton taken care of. If the Panthers fail to get a deal done, Moton will play out the entire 2021 season on the franchise tag, costing them $13,754,000.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Panthers are still interested in extending Moton, but he’s willing to play under the franchise tag if necessary. There is still work to be done between the two parties.
Other sources have been clamoring for Moton to get the long-term security he deserves. They consider him one of the best right tackles in the game. They are wondering what is taking so long.
One possible reason for the delay is that Moton was brought into Carolina under previous management. There is a chance Scott Fitterer and Matt Rhule don’t think of him at the same caliber as former GM Dave Gettleman once did. His stats say otherwise and he has proven his worth over the last several seasons.
It’s highly unlikely that the Panthers don’t value him or don’t want to keep him in the franchise, but there is a possibility that they can’t come to an agreement on the money or years.
According to Spotrac, Moton’s market value is now nearly $20 million per year. That’s a huge price tag to pay for anyone, even a player as successful as Moton. If they can’t come up with a contract for Moton, it seems the Panthers have a back-up plan in the works.
The Panthers used a third-round selection on offensive lineman Brady Christensen of BYU. The overwhelming thought was that they were going to play him at the left tackle position, which is the spot he played his entire collegiate career. Christensen excelled protecting Zach Wilson’s blindside, allowing only three pressures and one sack last season.
It looks like Rhule and Fitterer see Christensen as more of a right tackle in the NFL. If that’s true, the only way he will see significant playing time is with Moton’s departure.
For the Panthers sake, maybe it’s just a negotiating ploy. If able to keep them both, that would be the start of a great offensive line.
