3 primary Carolina Panthers candidates for contract restructures in 2023

Austin Corbett – Carolina Panthers OL

• Cap savings – $5.94 million

There are few signings that made as big of an impact as Austin Corbett in 2022. The Super Bowl winner brought a different mentality to the right guard position, which had been a constant source of frustration when the likes of John Miller, Dennis Daley, and Michael Jordan were tasked with starting responsibilities.

Corbett’s veteran savviness coupled with improved consistency made this one of Matt Rhule’s best-ever signings in free agency. Unfortunately for the player and the Carolina Panthers, it ended on a sour note with a serious knee injury that requires significant rehabilitation.

The former second-round selection is now one month into the process after going through a successful surgery. Corbett is hoping to be back in time for Week 1, but the player knows it’s going to be a long, hard slog before anything is rubber-stamped by team doctors.

"“It’s not a ton of pain for me. Right now, it’s more just the swelling. That’s the annoying part, right? The swelling is already coming down significantly. Like today, it’s going away. It’s more of an annoyance right now. And I know it’s going to get significantly worse post-surgery. So that’s looming. Getting worse before it gets better is what we’re dealing with.”"

The Panthers won’t want Corbett missing any time. However, he can do the franchise a favor by restructuring his current contract, which provides Carolina with an additional $5.94 million to spend elsewhere.