Taylor Moton deservedly recognized by Pro Football Focus
Taylor Moton is beginning to make a name for himself.
In what was a rough year for the Carolina Panthers offensive line, they did have one bright spot on the unit. Tackle Taylor Moton proved to be a key part of the unit and made an impact right away. He was a pleasant surprise in a unit that was often inconsistent from game to game.
Tuesday, he was recognized for his efforts. Pro Football Focus named him the fourth-best offensive lineman in the division. Sporting a 76.2 grade, he joins the likes of Terron Armstead and Jake Matthews among others. For what it’s worth, Armstead was the top offensive lineman on the list. He finished the 2018 season with an 87.7 grade. Matthews finished just above Moton with a 79.2 mark. With the NFC South being weak in some positions, sometimes these lists can be deceiving. However, it would not be a stretch to say that the offensive lineman position certainly boasts some talent.
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It is safe to say that Moton was pleasant surprise for the line. Coming into the season, he was thought to be a piece of the line but he wasn’t expected to make as big an impact as he eventually ended up making. It was fun to watch him play throughout the course of the season. As the season roared on, improvement was noticeable for both Taylor Moton and the unit. He certainly surpassed expectations.
Now with a great season under his belt, Moton will probably be looked at as one of the leaders on a unit that is sure to see a bit of turnover. It wouldn’t be unfair to raise expectations for him to play even better. If anything, that would be a credit to him as now the Panthers should feel comfortable with him at tackle. Especially if the organization chooses to get younger through the draft, his veteran leadership will definitely be an added bonus.
What the offensive line will look like next season will be one of the many interesting storylines in 2019. Truthfully, as long as they protect quarterback Cam Newton, I don’t care what the line looks like. If there is one certainty, it is that Taylor Moton will probably be on it. He has certainly earned the right to play a big part in what the line looks like. If he can keep up that same level of play in 2019, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be able to make the Pro Bowl.