4 Panthers free agents who could still re-sign with the team
By Dean Jones
Russell Okung – Former Carolina Panthers OT
Although there was nothing wrong with Russell Okung’s performances on the whole last season, his inability to see the field for nine of the 16 regular-season games was concerning. The experienced left tackle provided assurance to what’s become a problem area for the Carolina Panthers ever since Jordan Gross retired, so allowing the Pro Bowler to test the market was probably the smart way to go.
Okung has reportedly met with the Kansas City Chiefs without anything solid coming from it. Perhaps there is a financial aspect to consider regarding a Super Bowl winner who’s earned a ton of money throughout his career. But with this year’s NFL Draft class set to be a deep one for offensive linemen, teams will undoubtedly look at cheaper, younger options in the not-too-distant future.
The longer Okung remains unsigned, the more chance the Panthers might have in bringing him back on a team-friendly deal. And they could always turn his contract into Bitcoin and give the veteran chance to earn more out of it, so it’s a win-win for both parties.
In all seriousness, Okung does have some problems staying healthy these days and is clearly heading into the twilight of his career. But the signings of Cam Erving and Pat Elflein aren’t going to be enough to improve things from a protection standpoint even if they do manage to land someone like Penei Sewell at No. 8.