5 things on Marty Hurney’s to-do list during the bye week
By Dean Jones
Extend Taylor Moton
The time for debate regarding Taylor Moton and his importance to the Carolina Panthers is over. His level of consistency this season has been nothing short of exceptional and Marty Hurney should be looking to extend the player at the earliest possible opportunity.
Yes, the Panthers don’t normally get into negotiations during the campaign. But with relatively little to play for other than pride over their remaining four games, getting Moton to commit long-term would be a massive lift for Carolina’s staff, players, and fans alike.
Moton’s flawless technique is matched by incredible footwork that has allowed him to cope with some of the NFL’s most devastating pass-rushers with ease in 2020. He has rarely been flustered on the edge and his emergence as one of the league’s best protectors is something that the Panthers cannot ignore.
Keeping Moton around isn’t going to be cheap. The former second-round pick is projected to command an annual salary of $16.3 million on a four-year, $65.56 million deal when he heads to the bargaining table and Hurney would be wise to give the player whatever he wants.
The sooner that the Panthers do this, the more time they can spend focusing on other areas of significant need during another important offseason period in 2021.