Panthers and OT Taylor Moton agree to 4-year, $72M extension

The Carolina Panthers and tackle Taylor Moton have agreed to a four-year contract worth $72 million.

The Carolina Panthers can count on a solid bookend through the middle of the decade.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Panthers and tackle Taylor Moton agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract extension on Thursday. The move also provides for $43 million guaranteed at signing — a welcomed payday for the former 2017 second-round pick from Western Michigan.

The deal also helps the Panthers and Moton avoid the franchise tag. If the deal didn’t take place before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the 6-5, 325-pound tackle would have played the entire season under the tag. Carolina and Moton’s representation would have also been precluded from contract talks until the end of the 2021 campaign.

Moton has been active for every game of his career. Starting in 2018, Moton manned the right tackle spot and has not missed a single start.

Among right tackles, Moton’s $18 million per year is tied with the Philadelphia Eagles’ Lane Johnson for the second-highest in the NFL. Only the New Orleans Saints’ Ryan Ramczyk has a higher average at $19.2 million annually.

Panthers sign former BYU receiver Micah Simon

The Carolina Panthers have signed former BYU receiver Micah Simon.

The Carolina Panthers continue adding to their receiving corps.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Panthers signed former BYU receiver Micah Simon.

Simon was unable to participate in BYU’s pro day in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic obliterated that chance. However, he was able to participate in BYU’s 2021 pro day with former quarterback Zach Wilson. Simon caught passes from the top quarterback prospect and also posted a reported 4.34 40-yard dash time.

The 6-1, 195-pound receiver caught 90 passes for 1,109 yards and five touchdowns in his four seasons with the Cougars. Simon even rushed 11 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Simon’s best season with BYU was in 2019 when he caught 51 passes for 616 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. The former Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne product also rushed five times for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

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