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Examining the top-5 salary-cap hits on the Carolina Panthers in 2021

By Nick Halden

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 19: Inside linebacker Krys Barnes #51 of the Green Bay Packers forces quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Carolina Panthers to fumble in the the second quarter of the game at Lambeau Field on December 19, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 19: Inside linebacker Krys Barnes #51 of the Green Bay Packers forces quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Carolina Panthers to fumble in the the second quarter of the game at Lambeau Field on December 19, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Carolina Panthers
(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) Taylor Moton /

Taylor Moton – Carolina Panthers OT

  • 2021 salary-cap hit: $13.75 million

Taylor Moton and the Carolina Panthers were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal and the team made the expected move to place their stud right tackle under the franchise tag. Good players at the position are hard to find in the league, so this was a solid move for an offensive line that now needs to protect Sam Darnold.

Tagging Moton is not exactly ideal. It makes him the second-highest-paid player and may even be the team’s highest-paid individual if further developments happen as expected in the coming weeks.

Simply put, this is only a good move for the Panthers if they can figure out a long-term deal.

One cannot make an argument for Moton being the highest-paid player on this roster beyond this season. It is an oddity based on where Carolina is as a franchise and their recent youth movement in a bid to get them back to prominence.

Signing him long-term is the right move for a team that will only be as good as their offensive line. We have seen Darnold is unable to elevate a team without protection and Christian McCaffrey needs help making it past the line of scrimmage.

Don’t be shocked if the Panthers continue to make moves on their offensive line, including drafting a top college prospect in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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