7 free-agent interior offensive linemen the Panthers should consider in 2022
By Luke Tucker
Carolina Panthers should target Connor Williams
If Brandon Scherff is a big-name guard, then Connor Williams could be considered one of the more underrated guards. He was a second-round pick back in 2018 and has started 51 games for the Dallas Cowboys since then.
Williams was an above-average player during his first four years in the league. But hasn’t gained a ton of recognition playing alongside elite linemen Zack Martin and Tyron Smith.
The former Texas product will only be 25 years old when the new season rolls around, so he’s got a lot of football left ahead of him. Whether or not that will be in Dallas remains to be seen, but he would be a welcome addition to the Carolina Panthers offensive line.
Carolina is almost certainly going to address the line during the draft, but if Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer could land Williams, they would have an immediate starter at left guard.
Moton would still be a rock at right tackle, and Brady Christensen can be a movable piece. Simply put, bringing Williams in would give the Panthers anchors at two of the five positions on the offensive line.
Pro Football Focus projects that Williams will land a three-year deal worth about $6.7 million per year. That would be much more affordable than someone like Scherff, without giving up too much gap in talent.
The fact that Williams is still a young player would also increase the value of this deal, as long as he can stay healthy.
Williams is actually PFF’s highest-graded free agent from this past season, so there is sure to be a market for him. He would seem to fit the Panthers’ young-talent mentality and might provide a major boost at a position where Carolina drastically needs it.