5 Panthers players who are the cornerstones of future success
By Dean Jones
Taylor Moton – Carolina Panthers OT
As any homeowner knows, the first thing you take care of when acquiring a property is the insurance. In Taylor Moton, the Carolina Panthers have a premier protector that has a rare gift to cope with even the most imposing defensive linemen at will and this is something that is going to be of enormous use to the franchise moving forward.
That is why signing Moton to a long-term extension this offseason is the No. 1 priority.
Other out-of-contract players such as Curtis Samuel and Rasul Douglas are important pieces. But neither provides the influence Moton gives Carolina on almost every down. The right tackle has been at the top of his game over the last two years and he is currently the highest graded Panther in 2020 by Pro Football Focus with 82.6.
Keeping a player with the quality Moton possesses is going to cost the Panthers. He is projected to command around $16.3 million per year according to Spotrac and judging by what we’ve seen from the former Western Michigan product over an extended period of time, he is worth every penny.
Offensive linemen might not get the headlines of other positional groups such as quarterback or wide receiver. But this shouldn’t detract from just what an important piece of the puzzle Moton has become in a short space of time.