5 players the Carolina Panthers cannot lose to injury in 2021
By Dean Jones
Taylor Moton – Carolina Panthers OT
The Carolina Panthers made the smart move by placing the franchise tag on Taylor Moton. He is an integral part of their plans and has emerged as one of the league’s most consistent right tackles over the last three years, so keeping the player around in some shape or form was absolutely pivotal.
Moton and the Panthers are working on a long-term extension that will hopefully be agreed upon sooner rather than later. He is thoroughly deserving of the pay rise coming his way in 2021 and if the Western Michigan product can make further strides next season, the sky is the limit.
Carolina has plenty of questions to answer across their remaining positions on the offensive line, which will hopefully be answered at training camp. If Moton was to miss some time at any stage when competitive action gets underway, it would be nothing short of a disaster.
It’s easy to take Moton’s production for granted.
He coped with some of the NFL’s most bullish pass-rushers with ease last season on his way to an outstanding 81.6 grade from Pro Football Focus, giving up just three sacks and conceding two penalties from 1,032 snaps.
The Panthers need Moton fit and firing on all cylinders once again next time around if Sam Darnold wants to make this fresh start count.