This morning, we wrote about Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton finally getting some respect as part of Touchdown Wire’s ranking of the top 11 OTs in the NFL going into 2021.
On the subject of comps for a contract extension, we called Lane Johnson’s deal with the Eagles an outlier. It averages $18 million per year and there was a significant gap between Johnson and the league’s second-highest paid right tackle (Jack Conlin’s deal with the Browns averages $14 million per year).
By lunchtime, that idea was obselete because the Saints have given Ryan Ramczyk a massive extension, worth $96 million over five years. It includes $60 million guaranteed.
More on Saints’ offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk signing a five-year, $96 million extension that includes $60 million guaranteed and makes him the new highest-paid right tackle in football.https://t.co/2rQ8qFNO2c
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 30, 2021
That comes out to over $19 million per year, resetting the market at this position.
What does it mean for the Panthers and Moton?
For one thing, Carolina’s pass rush will suffer. Ramczyk is an elite talent at his position and this extension was well-deserved, as big as those numbers sound. Pro Football Focus currently has him ranked third among all OTs, only trailing two superstar left tackles in Trent Williams and David Bakhtiari. As long as Ramczyk is healthy, getting pressure on New Orleans’ right flank will be difficult. Ramczyk is also a terrific run blocker, helping make Alvin Kamara’s job easier.
As far as the market goes, this extension should move the needle in the right direction for Moton and the other right tackles in line for a payday. If no long-term deal is struck within the next two weeks, Moton will play under the franchise tag this year. Matching Ramczyk’s guarantees and average will be tough, but if Moton continues balling throughout 2021 it’s not impossible.
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