6 moves that can save the Panthers $50 million against their 2023 cap
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could cut Pat Elflein
- Cap savings: $4.26 million
The Carolina Panthers’ offensive line was a major bright spot in 2022. Every starter played their part, the unit remained relatively healthy until late on, and the superior coaching from James Campen got them all on the same page quickly.
This was further reflected in some eye-catching improvements from Pat Elflein. The center started the campaign despite the free-agent addition of Bradley Bozeman and performed much better than many anticipated after such a torrid first year with the franchise.
Elflein looked solid in pass protection and carved out some useful running lanes on the interior for good measure. His communication pre-snap was another notable element of his production that deserves credit.
The former Ohio State star suffered some bad luck when he went down with a season-ending hip injury. Bozeman grabbed his opportunity with both hands and did more than enough to warrant a new contract rather than letting him test the free-agent market.
After restructuring his contract last year, Elflein counts $7.06 million against the cap in 2023. Considering Bozeman’s rise to prominence and the $4.26 million saved with his early release, this is another relatively easy decision for the Panthers.