7 free-agent interior offensive linemen the Panthers should consider in 2022
By Luke Tucker
Carolina Panthers should target Alex Cappa
If the Carolina Panthers are looking for an already-good, long-term piece upfront, then Alex Cappa is definitely someone to take a look at. Along with Connor Williams, the guard is one of the best young free agents set to test the market.
Cappa has spent the past four seasons with the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but with a good bit of change likely to happen within the organization, he could look to sign elsewhere.
We already know that Tom Brady won’t be behind center for the Bucs in 2022, and there’s a good chance that Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown won’t be either. Despite Chris Godwin getting the franchise tag, the Tampa Bay offense could look very different this year.
Perhaps the teammate whose future affects Cappa’s the most though is center Ryan Jensen, who is one of the best centers that will hit the open market. With the Buccaneers not having a ton of available cap space, it could be tough to re-sign both. It’s not impossible for both to return, but it’s also not a lock either.
With that being said, if the Bucs choose to commit to Jensen and not to Cappa, the Panthers could be willing to throw some money his way. Only 27 years old, the former third-round pick has plenty of good football left in the tank, and he has valuable starting experience with a really good team.
Plus, for the past two years, he was around Brady every day, and everyone who is around the legendary signal-caller seems to be better off for it.
It would take a heftier contract to sign Cappa than it would some of the other guys on this list. However, he could be an anchor on the Panthers’ offensive line for years to come.
Whether or not they can persuade him to come in though remains to be seen.