Best starter at every Carolina Panthers position in franchise history
By Jason Huber
Trai Turner – Former Carolina Panthers OG
In just six seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Trai Turner cemented his name in franchise history thanks to being an extremely reliable presence on the offensive line.
Turner won the right guard job as a rookie and he went on to start 80 of his 84 games in Carolina. He provided the team with a crushing run presence and also more than held his own in pass protection for good measure.
During his stint in Carolina, Turner was named a Pro Bowler five times and went on a streak of not allowing a sack in 627 snaps. No mean feat for a player that was respected both within the organization and across the league.
It was a shame to see Turner traded by the new regime once Matt Rhule took charge. The offensive guard was shipped to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for Russell Okung, who endured an injury-plagued season with the Panthers before his contract expired.
Turner didn’t fare much better in 2020 but showed some signs of life last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This did not go unnoticed by his former head coach Ron Rivera, who signed him for the Washington Commanders as he looks to rekindle the spark between the player and Andrew Norwell.