Rumored to be chasing guards, the Panthers are paying up to help Bryce Young protection in the quarterback’s second season. They are preparing a $100MM payment to fill this need.
Robert Hunt is headed to Charlotte, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reveals what it will cost. Hunt is signing a five-year, $100MM deal. A three-year Dolphins guard starter, Hunt becomes only the fourth guard in NFL history to sign a deal for at least $20MM per year. Part of Hunt’s guarantee will come via a $26.5MM signing bonus, Garafolo adds.
The Dolphins’ free agents have led the way on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. Miami was preparing to lose both Hunt and Christian Wilkins; both players have received deals near the top of their positions’ markets. Hunt will slide in as an upgrade at guard for a Panthers team that saw both its guard starters — Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett — suffer season-ending injuries last year.
These injuries were among the issues that plagued Young during his rough rookie season. The Panthers will give their diminutive quarterback a better chance by helping to protect him from inside pressure, which was a common problem during the No. 1 pick’s debut. Hunt is going into his age-28 season, making it rather important he was able to cash in this year — after the cap spike created a friendlier market.
A 2020 second-round pick, Hunt slid from right tackle to right guard in 2021 and became the Dolphins’ most consistent O-lineman. As Miami moved more players around and saw other blockers suffer injuries in this span, Hunt chugged along. That said, Hunt did aggravate a hamstring injury and miss seven games last season. But the Louisiana alum started all 34 games from 2021-22. Hunt goes 330 pounds, giving the Panthers an imposing presence as they reconstruct their line in Dave Canales‘ first year.
Pro Football Focus slotted Hunt as a top-12 guard in each of the past two seasons; he played a big role in helping Mike McDaniel‘s offense ignite. The Panthers will pay up to see if he can help Young begin a real development effort, after last season saw those hopes encounter early turbulence.
Sholy hit!
Holy moly. I guess the guard market is shooting up. I like the player and he fills a glaring need, but guard is not where I would be spending this extravagantly on an outside free agent.
They have to overpay for free agents because, right now, nobody wants to go there. Defense is meh, young qb, no weapons, bad oline, rookie HC, and an impatient owner.
I get all that, but competent guard play isn’t *that* hard to find.
It really is though lol. It is so much harder to find good olinemen in the draft nowadays and even just mid-level guys get paid a decent amount because of how hard it is to find ones that aren’t just turnstiles. It feels like there are 10-15 teams each year desperately looking to plug a oline hole in their roster each year.
Teams are valuing guards and centers more than in the past because DTs are so much better at rushing the passer + increased emphasis on rushing the QB from the interior.
Not guards. Teams regularly find good guards day three or later.
Graham Glasgow just got $20 million for three years. He’s older and worse, but he’s good enough to plug a leak, which is what’s important here. I get what you’re saying, and the rise of interior pass rushers is a good argument for paying elite guards more than ever, but I still don’t think Hunt or Jackson are good values on these deals. And especially for a team like the Panthers that desperately needs multiple players at more valuable positions and elsewhere along the line, I think they would be better off bringing in solid interior line pieces as opposed to giving a guard $20 million a year.
What a gross over pay. This guy is not even as good as Runyan and he really got the bag here. Good for him, bad for value returned.
I don’t think this is a good contract, but Hunt is much better than Runyan.
Depends how much you value PFF. If you like PFF then yes you’re right.
Yeah. Runyon is just a guy. Hunt isn’t worth this, but he’s much better than that.
$100M? That’s nuts
My Dolphins have lost Robert Hunt, Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel and Brandon Jones. But hey, at least they overpaid on a Bradley Chubb extension!
Who promptly below out his knee.
Oh and they also cut Xavien Howard and Jerome Baker. Yeesh.
I only remember him as the guy that caught that pass but it wasn’t a catch. Great athlete for a big guy.
Panthers have to over pay.