5 former Carolina Panthers players who could return in 2022
By Dean Jones
Trai Turner – Former Carolina Panthers OG
As stated previously, the Carolina Panthers need to solve some riddles on their offensive line in free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft. The likes of Michael Jordan, Dennis Daley, and Cam Erving cannot be relied upon any longer and unless this becomes the team’s top priority before competitive games resume, then it could come with some grave consequences.
One player that the Panthers have had trouble replacing since he was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers is Trai Turner. The imposing right guard was a five-time Pro Bowler during his time with the franchise, but the new regime opted to send him to California in exchange for Russell Okung, who played seven games during his only season with the team.
Things haven’t gone quite according to plan for Turner, either. He was released by the Chargers after one year and spent 2021 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the LSU product earned a creditable 69.4 grade from Pro Football Focus as a result of his efforts.
More importantly for Turner, he played 1,082 snaps last season, indicating that his injury problems could be behind him. This would be a popular move considering the esteem in which he is held within the fanbase and if the price is right, Carolina should consider the possibility.
Turner is an upgrade on anything the Panthers churned out at right guard last season. But the Panthers could decide on a college prospect for a longer-term solution.