With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution. In this series, we’ll take a look at just how much the Panthers have tied up in specific position groups over the next couple of seasons, what contracts could be terminated or extended, and what percentage of the cap each group takes up. For this series, I’ll be using the numbers at Over the Cap. Next on our list, the offensive line!
On the Books
Dan Morgan has touted
the importance of building through the trenches since his tenure began, and his actions have backed that up. After exercising Ikem Ekwonu’s fifth year option, the team now owes him a fully guaranteed $17.5 million this season. Free agent signing Rasheed Walker will be a $4 million hit, while Stone Forsythe is a $2 million hit with only about half of that guaranteed. Moving inside, Damien Lewis will count $16.7 million against the cap this season. The team could save around $9 million by cutting him, but why would they when he’s been so dominant for them during this contract? Center Luke Fortner signed a one year deal for about $2.75 million, about half of which is guaranteed. Rookie center Sam Hecht, who will likely be battling Fortner for the starting center position, signed a deal where his cap hit this season will be right around $1 million. Big Robert Hunt has the biggest cap hit of this group at $24.3 million. The Panthers would actually lose $13 million in cap space by cutting him this year. Chandler Zavala is in the last year of his deal at $1.337 million, most of which is not guaranteed. Taylor Moton is another pricey veteran with a cap hit of $21.1 million. He’s another one the Panthers would lose over $12 million of cap space by cutting. Rookie tackle Monroe Freeling’s first round slotted contract has him at about $3.8 million against the cap this season. There are other players on the roster right now that technically have cap hits, but most of those are sitting around $1 million without many guarantees.
Next Year
There will be some decisions to make next season, for sure. Ikem Ekwonu is coming off a major knee injury and hitting free agency after his fifth year option expires. Rasheed Walker will likely walk (pun intended) in free agency after the Panthers drafted the presumptive left tackle of the future. Damien Lewis will be 30, and the team could save about $13 million in cap space by cutting him. I think an extension is more likely, though, as Lewis has been an absolute dawg (plus there isn’t much in terms of depth behind him). Robert Hunt could be cut with a dead cap of $10.6 million to save $13.7 million; again, not a move I would make given his play so far. If an extension isn’t reached, I could see him being a potential cap casualty in 2028. Moton is in a similar scenario where it would not make cap sense to cut him, but he’ll be a free agent in 2028 which is a void year on his current contract. How much the Panthers are willing and can afford to pay those mid thirties offensive linemen will definitely be interesting.
Measuring Up
Dan Morgan is true to his word as the Panthers lead the league in cap percentage spent on offensive line at 29.6%, with the Broncos in second at 24.23% and the Chiefs in third at 23.39%. For reference, the middle of the road teams like the Browns and Bills are sitting around 17% while the bottom of the league (Steelers and Dolphins) are sitting under 10%. While the future is a little hazy, especially at guard, the Panthers have invested heavily in the offensive line and have had one of the better units the past couple of seasons. With Bryce Young’s fifth year option and potential extension on the horizon, though, the team will likely be unable to keep spending this much on the line in the coming years.
