Taylor Moton extension proves competency is king in Carolina

Taylor Moton’s bumper contract extension proves beyond all doubt that competency is once again king within the Carolina Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers finally got their best offensive lineman tied down to a lengthy deal. According to ESPN’s insider Adam Schefter, the team and stud right tackle Taylor Moton came to an agreement just a few short hours before the deadline for franchise-tagged players to get long-term contracts.

This is fantastic news for the Panthers and a well-deserved extension for Moton, who has been one of the most consistent performers protecting the edge over the last three seasons.

Schefter reported that Moton penned a four-year, $72 million deal that includes $43 million guaranteed at signing. More importantly, this ties down the former second-round pick to Carolina during his prime and someone the team can build around within a problem area.

Carolina’s competency in the front office with Scott Fitterer at the helm has been evident throughout the offseason. There is a clear drive that simply wasn’t there under the previous regimes and from a fan standpoint, long may it continue.

Letting Moton walk in free agency was not an option earlier this year. It might have cost the Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel, but there was never really a choice between the two given how important the Western Michigan product is to the team’s plans.

Extending Taylor Moton was a no-brainer for the Carolina Panthers.

What’s important now is that the Panthers get the right sort of players around Moton. This remains an area of concern and unless the unproven rookies or journeyman veterans raise their game accordingly, things might be difficult in front of quarterback Sam Darnold.

Fitterer and the Panthers might have left it late. But there was no bad blood between both parties and Moton can now focus on football rather than potentially getting paid somewhere down the line.

This is big-time money, which comes with its own pressure.

However, considering how well Moton has performed in Carolina, it shouldn’t phase him in the slightest.

If anything, this proves that the Panthers are heading in the right direction and have decision-makers in place who know what’s best for the franchise.

Few would argue that Moton is not deserving of such a big financial commitment. Although some bad contracts have been given out by the organization in recent years, getting the tackle extended before competitive action begins was the right call to make in no uncertain terms.

Fitterer has made the biggest of impressions both within the Panthers and across their fanbase in a short space of time. His maneuvering during the draft was nothing short of masterful and if it all goes according to plan on the field, the sky is the limit for this group.

Moton is obviously going to play a significant part in whatever comes Carolina’s way in 2021 and beyond. It was a no-brainer to extend him, but doing so before the franchise tag deadline comes with a huge sigh of relief and avoids any unnecessary speculation throughout the campaign.

A front office with competence, drive, and conviction. How the Panthers have missed that over the years.