Carolina Panthers Taylor Moton top rated right tackle

Carolina Panthers second year utility lineman Taylor Moton is quietly making a name for himself.

The Carolina Panthers endured numerous injuries along the offensive line beginning in training camp and continuing into the regular season. As a result, second-year tackle Taylor Moton has been shuffled from right tackle to left tackle and back in just a few short weeks but continues to impress.

Moton, who wasn’t expected to start at either tackle position behind Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams, was thrust into action following injuries to each. Williams first went down during the preseason but returned to start Week 1 when Moton replaced M. Kalil, who had been placed on injured reserve.

Unfortunately, Williams suffered another injury during the game and while Moton finished the season opener at left tackle, he moved to right tackle for every other Panthers game this season. There he has excelled at protecting quarterback Cam Newton and paving the way for running back Christian McCaffrey over the past few weeks.

Moton impressed so much that he earned the highest grade of any right tackle according to Pro Football Focus through the first three weeks of regular season play. After a preseason where the sophomore lineman ranked No. 4 out of every tackle in the league, his positive contributions continue.

"Through three games, Moton is the highest graded right tackle in the NFL at 81.1, and on 63 pass block snaps (36 at left tackle in Week 1) Moton has allowed only two quarterback pressures. He has also been a mauler in the run game with the highest run blocking grade among all offensive tackles at 81.1."

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The entire Panthers offensive line deserves credit for their impressive start to the season – especially considering the number of injuries they have worked around each week. The different combinations used up front have effectively displayed the depth of a critical position and one that should continue to produce well into the future.

If Carolina hopes for a return to the playoffs then Moton and his counterparts must continue their high level of play. While it remains early in the season, the Panthers are expected to lean on their lineman a great deal as they continue to operate under a run-first approach in hopes of opening up the passing game down the field.

Both aspects are critical for Carolina to find any success but it appears Moton is ready and willing to contribute – right now.

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