Tag: Panthers Franchise Tag

Panthers expected to use franchise tag on right tackle Taylor Moton

The Carolina Panthers are expected to use their 2021 franchise tag on their stud starting right tackle Taylor Moton, according to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

The Carolina Panthers are expected to use the franchise tag on their stud starting right tackle Taylor Moton, according to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network.

Moton is arguably the best right tackle in the league right now and this team absolutely could not have afforded to let him sign with another team. It’s still in their interest to sign him to a long-term deal. This move at least buys them more time to do so.

Franchise tags for offensive linemen are all the same regardless of their specific position. This year it’s around $13.6 million.

The last time the Panthers used a franchise tag on a player was defensive tackle Kawann Short in 2017. Short eventually signed a multi-year deal, which he was recently released from. However, the team is reportedly interested in bringing him back if he doesn’t wind up signing with another team as a free agent.

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How much would it cost the Panthers to franchise tag OT Taylor Moton?

If the Panthers can’t come to a long-term agreement with Moton, they’ll have to consider franchise tagging him.

Thanks to some errors by the previous general manager, the Carolina Panthers are in a pickle heading into the 2021 offseason. Namely, there are a couple of important, high-quality offensive players who are about to become free agents. If Marty Hurney had given them contract extensions at any time over the last couple of years, the cost of keeping them would have been dramatically lower compared to now.

At the top of the list is offensive tackle Taylor Moton, who has developed into one of the NFL’s top right tackles, if not the best in the business. He hasn’t missed a game in four years and has usually performed well since he became a full-time starter back in 2018. Moton played every offensive snap that season as well as in 2020. He managed a meager 99% in 2019.

Consistent blocking at a high level doesn’t come cheap, but signing Moton to a long-term extension should be at the top of the list for general manager Scott Fitterer when it comes to retaining current players.

If the Panthers can’t come to a long-term agreement with Moton, they’ll have to consider franchise tagging him. How much would it cost?

According to an estimate by Jason Fitzgerald at Over the Cap, if the salary cap is set at $180.5 million the franchise tag for offensive linemen this year will be about $13.6 million.

Another candidate to get tagged is wide receiver Curtis Samuel – which would cost around $15.8 million.

Players can be designated for the franchise tag between February 23 and March 9.

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