With the Panthers offseason underway and free agency just a couple months away, let’s take a look at some of the areas on the roster that Dan Morgan and Brandt Tillis have to address this offseason. Instead
of looking at the entire roster, we are going to break the list down by position group. For the projected market value, I’ll be using Spotrac’s numbers. If you don’t agree with how much a player might get in free agency, take it up with them, not me. This week’s focus will be on the offensive line.
2025 Performance
The overall performance of the offensive line was a mixed bag and largely depends on the stats you prefer to look at. Pro Football Focus, for example, has the Panthers as the 20th overall offensive line but the 8th best pass protection unit in the league. ESPN’s advanced stats for the offensive line are less complimentary. The Panthers pass block win rate ranked 23rd in the NFL this year (59%) while the run block win rate was 28th overall (70%). Those numbers are in start contrast to other stats like the Panthers ranking 9th in yards before contact per running back rush (1.4) and sixth lowest in run stuff rate (13.3%) according to Sharp Football Analysis. Also according to Sharp, the Panthers were 20th in pressure rate allowed and 21st in pressure rate allowed when not being blitzed, a far cry from the flowers PFF was giving the pass protection unit.
Long story short, the Panthers offensive line was very inconsistent this season, so no one knows what to make of them overall. The team suffered a litany of injuries, leading to ten different starting offensive line combinations just in the first 13 games of the season. This constant flux didn’t do the unit any favors, and the inconsistent numbers on the jerseys led to inconsistent numbers in the box scores.
Panthers’ Free Agents (with Spotrac expected market value)
OL Austin Corbett ($1.6M)
OT Yosh Nijman ($1.0M)
OL Cade Mays ($12.3M)
OL Brady Christensen (n/a)
OL Jake Curhan (n/a)
The top targets for the Panthers to bring back are likely Cade Mays, the starting center most of the season, Yosh Nijman, and Brady Christensen. Austin Corbett could also be brought back, especially considering the injury issues the team is still dealing with. Christensen is returning from a devastating Achilles rupture in October and may not be ready for opening day. Ikem Ekwonu suffered an end of season patellar tendon tear, putting his availability for 2026 in jeopardy as well. If Christensen is healthy, he could play left tackle until Icky is back. That’s not a bet I’d make if I were the GM, though.
Other Teams’ Free Agents (with Spotrac expected market value)
Packers OT Rasheed Walker ($20.4M)
Browns OT Cam Robinson ($12.9M)
Saints OG Dillon Radunz ($2.5M)
Dolphins OG Cole Strange ($1.6M)
Giants OC Austin Schlottmann ($2.3M)
There are several serviceable lineman expected to hit the market in March. The Panthers need a potential starter at left tackle (and at center if Mays leaves) and depth at just about every position along the line. If they want to really swing for the fences and plan for life after Taylor Moton, then they could make a push for Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker. He will likely cost upwards of $20M per year, but he could be the team’s left tackle for the foreseeable future, allowing Icky Ekwonu to move to right tackle (or even guard, if necessary). Browns left tackle Cam Robinson would be more of a stop-gap option while Icky recovers, likely on a one or two year deal.
The other three names are realistic depth options that the Panthers might look into. They are expected to be slightly pricier than Corbett and Nijman, but still not outrageously expensive for depth pieces. Saints guard Dillon Radunz and Dolphins guard Cole Strange are both currently only 27 years old, while Giants center Austin Schlottmann is 30. All three could be signed to multi year deals and expected to finish them out, allowing some consistency in the offensive line room if the current crop of Panthers free agents end up leaving.
