Pat Elflein – Carolina Panthers OL
- 2022 cap number: $6.72 million
Again, signing Pat Elflein to a two-year contract on Day 1 of free agency was a strange look. The former Ohio State star had struggled more often than not with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, so for the Carolina Panthers to swoop when the market wasn’t expected to be that robust was a bizarre move.
Elflein’s relationship with offensive line coach Pat Meyer from their time on the Buckeyes played a leading role in this decision. But from a production standpoint, things went pretty much as expected.
The veteran once again struggled at the guard position, where he just doesn’t seem comfortable despite three teams thinking he was the answer on the interior. However, there were some signs of life from Elflein’s perspective when the Panthers were forced to slot him at center after Matt Paradis went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 9.
There was the odd blip, but Elflein looks a lot better with the ball in his hands. Something that could see him get a full season there in 2022 if Carolina opts to turn their attentions elsewhere in free agency or the NFL Draft.
That being said, Elflein appears vastly overpaid with a $6.72 million cap number. Especially considering he might be a backup when it’s all said and done.