5 former Panthers who should get signed quickly after the 2022 draft
By Dean Jones
Trai Turner – Former Carolina Panthers OG
It’s been a rollercoaster for Trai Turner since the current regime decided to trade the perennial Pro Bowl guard to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for Russell Okung soon after Matt Rhule was appointed head coach. The Carolina Panthers didn’t get much out of this deal, with the left tackle playing just seven games in 2020 before his contract came to an end.
Turner struggled to find fitness or consistency in Los Angeles and was also let go after just one season. However, the veteran did look back to something like his old self with the Pittsburgh Steelers last time around and, more importantly, managed to stay free of injury complications en route to 1,082 offensive snaps.
There were moments when Turner found life difficult. But it’s worth remembering that the LSU product is still just 28 years old and could have a few more solid seasons left in the tank.
Finding a new team hasn’t come about as yet for Turner. But this might change once organizations evaluate their offensive line options following the 2022 NFL Draft.
A player like Turner represents a plug-and-play starter or dependable backup depending on the situation. This is a good position to be in and might see the player wait a little longer than most for the right fit due to the money he’s already made throughout a glittering career.