Headlines

Carolina Panthers News & Rumors

Panthers Sign Round 2 DT Lee Hunter, Wrap Draft Class

By | at May 15, 2026 5:52 pm

5:52pm: Hunter’s deal comes with full guarantees through 2028 and partial guarantees in ’29, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The total percentage of guarantees is 94.39, a much higher number than the 78.94% last year’s 49th pick, Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.

12:39pm: The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract. Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced.

As the 49th overall pick, Hunter’s arrangement is worth approximately $10.07MM. There is likely a significant amount of guaranteed money in the pact. Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord. The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.

Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder came off the board early on the heels of a productive four-year college career divided between UCF and Texas Tech.

Hunter broke out in 2023, his second season at UCF, where he piled up 69 tackles, 11 TFL and three sacks in 13 games. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024, a 12-game, 45-tackle campaign, and then transferred to Texas Tech. In his lone season as a Red Raider, Hunter notched 41 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 14 contests. In addition to picking up a first-team All-Big 12 nod, he was a first-team All-American.

Thanks in part to Hunter, Texas Tech finished first in the nation in run defense last year. That is an area where the Panthers will hope to improve in 2026, as they ranked an underwhelming 20th against opposing ground attacks last season. They now have Hunter as a run-stuffing option on a Derrick Brown-led D-line that also features Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton.

Along with Hunter, the Panthers added six other rookies in the draft. Here is a refresher on the group:

0 comments 2026 NFL Draft Carolina Panthers Transactions

Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract

By | at May 14, 2026 10:57 pm

Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).

Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.

Arizona Cardinals

Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)

D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)

The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

  • Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)

David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal 

Green Bay Packers

Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees

Houston Texans

  • Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)

Information from OverTheCap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post

11 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders LeSean McCoy Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Uncategorized Washington Commanders

Panthers To Hold Competition At LT, C

By | at May 13, 2026 8:41 am

The Panthers lost Ikem Ekwonu to a torn patellar tendon in a wild-card round defeat to the Rams in January, adding left tackle to their list of needs entering the offseason. General manager Dan Morgan has made notable additions at the position since then, having picked up Rasheed Walker in free agency and drafted Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick.

Appearing on NFL Network on Tuesday, Morgan revealed Walker and Freeling will compete to open the season as the Panthers’ starting left tackle (via Michael Baca of NFL.com).

“In terms of Monroe (Freeling), he’ll compete with Rasheed (Walker),” Morgan said. “We were lucky to get him in free agency, another guy we think highly about, a veteran who’s played a lot of games in this league. We feel like we have a lot of optionality there and looking forward to seeing those guys compete.”

The Panthers brought in Walker on a $4MM base deal, a surprisingly low amount for a 26-year-old with significant starting left tackle experience. Walker was Green Bay’s full-time choice on the blind side from 2023-25, during which he made 48 starts. Now entering a second straight contract year, Walker will have a chance to boost his stock, but he will have to beat out Freeling.

Although Carolina was a widely predicted mock draft landing spot for Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman or tight end Kenyon Sadiq, it prioritized tackle over those two positions in the first round. The Panthers had more interest in Thieneman than Sadiq, according to Joe Person of The Athletic, but Freeling won out (Sadiq was already gone by then). Despite only making 17 starts in college, the former Georgia Bulldog saw his stock skyrocket during the pre-draft process. Morgan called Freeling “a franchise left tackle” on Tuesday. Even if he loses the battle to Walker this summer, the Panthers at least regard Freeling as their long-term solution at the position.

As is the case at left tackle, the Panthers are set to stage a competition at center, Person reports. Cade Mays had a career season during a 12-start 2025 for the Panthers, but they did not retain him in free agency. A few hours after Mays joined the Lions on a three-year, $25MM agreement, the Panthers added Luke Fortner on a modest pact worth up to $4.75MM. Fortner has amassed 44 starts in a four-year career divided between Jacksonville and New Orleans, but he will have to fend off rookie Sam Hecht for the No. 1 role in Carolina. The Panthers spent a fifth-rounder on Hecht, who was a two-year starter at Kansas State. Hecht earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season.

While it is up in the air who will start at left tackle and center, the rest of the Panthers’ 2025 front five could begin next season intact. Right tackle Taylor Moton and the guard tandem of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis remain in the fold on pricey contracts.

10 comments Carolina Panthers

Dan Morgan: Panthers Discussing Bryce Young Extension Internally

By | at May 11, 2026 3:00 pm

MAY 11: Executives who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora expressed hesitancy about making a big-money commitment to Young at this time. They predicted Carolina will wait at least one more year before authorizing an extension. It will be interesting to see if a push is made by the team this summer to finalize a deal knowing there is time before one needs to be worked out.

MAY 3: The Panthers made the expected move of picking up Bryce Young‘s fifth-year option earlier this week. Attention will now turn to the matter of an extension for the former No. 1 pick.

Young is on track to collect $25.9MM in guaranteed salary for 2027 as a result of Carolina’s decision. The team could elect to wait before making a long-term commitment given the former Heisman winner’s incremental progress at the NFL level. Young himself would welcome an extension, however, and a report from last month indicated the Panthers could oblige.

GM Dan Morgan addressed the Young situation during an interview with Sirius XM’s Adam Schein (audio link). He said a multiyear deal is “something that we’re talking about here internally,” adding “we’ll do it at the right time.” It will thus be interesting to see if negotiations with Young’s camp take place during the coming weeks.

“Obviously he came into a really rough situation in terms of coaching staff, maybe you could say the talent around him wasn’t great as well,” Morgan said of Young. “I think you see him just getting better and better every single year. Understanding the offense, he’s such a good processor, and a guy that’s just a pleasure to have around the building every day. As you see him mature, you see him become a better leader every single year. And the operation’s getting faster every year. So we really feel like the arrow is up with Bryce.”

Young set a new career high in several categories during the 2025 season, although his 188 passing yards per game average and 87.8 passer rating left plenty to be desired. The 24-year-old totaled 23 touchdown passes while helping Carolina win the NFC South, but he added 11 interceptions along the way. Another step forward will be required for Young to be considered among the game’s top quarterbacks and thus justify an extension near the top of the market. 10 passers currently collect between $51MM and $60MM per year on average.

Young could look to join that group when his next deal is signed, especially with the NFL’s salary cap continuing to rise. How his asking price compares to the Panthers’ valuation will be worth monitoring closely, though. Carolina has the ability to wait out the 2026 season before engaging in serious extension talks. Whether or not Morgan and Co. choose to do so will no doubt depend in large part on how internal discussions fare over the near future.

15 comments Carolina Panthers

Panthers Restructure Jaycee Horn’s Deal

By | at May 10, 2026 2:40 pm

Jaycee Horn landed a major extension last offseason. The Panthers’ top cornerback will remain a foundational figure for years to come, but his deal was recently reworked.

Carolina restructured Horn’s contract, as detailed by Spotrac. A total of $16.4MM was converted into a signing bonus via the transaction. That makes this an example of a simple conversion aimed at carving out immediate cap space. To aid in that effort, one void year was added to the pact. Carolina now has roughly $12MM in cap space.

Horn battled injuries in two of his first three NFL seasons. When on the field, though, he has met expectations as a former top-10 pick. To little surprise, then, team and player worked out a four-year, $100MM extension last spring. The pact ranks third in the NFL in terms of guarantees for cornerbacks, and Horn will be counted on to remain one of the position’s top producers moving forward. After earning a Pro Bowl nod during his final season before the extension was signed, he was a Pro Bowler once more in 2025.

The 2027 base salary in Horn’s deal has already shifted to a full guarantee. That year is now set to include a notable spike in his cap charge, though. The 26-year-old will count for $10.9MM against Carolina’s cap in 2026 as a result of the restructure. That will jump to $25.9MM the following year, with further increases (to $31.8MM and $33.9MM) scheduled. Horn is under team control through the 2029 season.

Carolina posted 15 interceptions in 2025, and Horn accounted for five of them. He will look to build off that career mark in 2026 and beyond while remaining a key figure in a Panthers secondary which ranked mid-pack last year. Another strong showing on Horn’s part would help the team’s chances of improving on defense and reaching the postseason once again.

5 comments Carolina Panthers Transactions

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/26

By | at May 7, 2026 8:35 pm

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Waived: OL Sal Wormley

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Waived: DL Josh Fuga, CB Jordan Oladokun

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Waived: C Gus Hartwig (failed physical)
  • Waived/injured: S Chris Smith

The Bears surprised many today when they moved on from 2025 fifth-round pick Zah Frazier. The six-foot-three cornerback sat out his entire rookie campaign for what the team described as a “personal reason,” leading to his placement on the non-football injury list. As Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times notes, GM Ryan Poles recently acknowledged that the player had a “mountain to climb” if he hoped to contribute in 2026, with the executive adding that Frazier “needed to play” last year. Now, the defensive back will have to make his NFL debut elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals received a roster exemption today for international player Valentin Senn. The former Austrian prospect will be auditioning for a spot on Arizona’s offensive line. The Jets also got a roster exemption for Paschal Ekeji. The former rugby player will be competing for a spot on the Jets defensive line.

0 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Jacksonville Jaguars Los Angeles Chargers New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Transactions

Panthers Sign 10 UDFAs

By | at May 7, 2026 6:46 pm

In addition to signing the majority of their draft picks today, the Panthers also added a handful of undrafted players to their rookie class. The team announced the signing of 10 UDFAs:

The team also noted that Coastal Carolina wide receiver Malick Meiga is expected to sign a contract and join the Panthers next week. The signing of Haynes King was reported shortly after the draft concluded.

Aaron Hall got a chunk of money to catch on with the franchise. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that the Duke defensive lineman got a $25K signing bonus plus $247.5K of his base salary guaranteed. Hall transformed into one of Duke’s most dependable defenders over the past three years. Between 2023 and 2025, the defensive tackle tallied 7.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 111 tackles.

Besides Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers still lack convincing depth at wide receiver, making Kobe Prentice an intriguing addition by the Panthers. The Baylor wideout never truly broke out during his time at Alabama, leading to him transferring to Baylor for the 2025 campaign. His performance with his new squad also left some to be desired, as he finished the year with only 26 catches for 380 yards. Notably, he did haul in six touchdowns.

1 comment Carolina Panthers Transactions

Panthers Sign First-Round OT Monroe Freeling

By | at May 7, 2026 5:32 pm

With the Panthers set to begin rookie minicamp tomorrow, the team has signed a handful of their draft picks. The team announced the signing of six rookies today, including first-round offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.

The Panthers reportedly entered the first round with a “tackle or bust” mentality, and they landed one of the draft’s top positional prospects in Freeling. The Georgia product exclusively played left tackle during his collegiate career, including a 2025 campaign where he earned second-team All-SEC honors. Freeling possesses the length and athleticism that teams seek from their LTs, although scouts did note that he needs to add some weight to compete in the NFL.

The Freeling selection could also lead to some interesting roster decisions for the franchise. The team is returning longtime RT Taylor Moton and is still rostering LT Ikem Ekwonu on a fifth-year option. Ekwonu is set to miss the beginning of the 2026 season, but the team seemingly filled that temporary hole by signing Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal worth just $4MM. Depth is never a bad thing, but it will be interesting to see how the OL ultimately shakes out, and the team’s surplus of OTs could potentially lead to some moves.

The team’s other signings today included:

This leaves the Panthers with only one unsigned draft pick: second-round DT Lee Hunter. While it’s notable that the Texas Tech product wasn’t included among the team’s other signings, there’s a chance he quickly inks his deal to be in attendance for tomorrow’s minicamp.

0 comments 2026 NFL Draft Carolina Panthers Transactions

Panthers Were Focused On Tackle Help In Round 1

By | at May 6, 2026 6:04 pm

Sometimes draft boards falling in certain ways lead teams to make best-player-available picks, thus leaving some need areas after taking a player at a fairly well-stocked position. Although the Panthers were regularly mocked tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 19, the team was focused on filling a position that appeared fortified.

The Panthers ended up with Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling at No. 19, after the Jets chose Sadiq 16th overall. Carolina does not appear to have pivoted after New York’s Sadiq pick, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tabbing the NFC South team as having a “tackle or bust” first-round mindset.

The team was interested in Kadyn Proctor and Caleb Lomu as well, Fowler adds, but it clearly valued Freeling higher than the latter. Lomu went off the board to the Patriots at No. 28, being the last of nine first-round O-linemen chosen in this draft. We had heard a run on O-linemen was likely around the middle of the first round, though the Panthers’ participation proved interesting.

Our Adam La Rose covered this issue in his most recent PFR mailbag, but the Panthers now have a crowded tackle group. The team returns longtime RT Taylor Moton and has LT Ikem Ekwonu on a fifth-year option. Although Ekwonu is not expected to be available to start the season, the team signed Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal worth just $4MM. Jauan Jennings‘ situation notwithstanding, Walker’s market underwhelmed to the greatest degree during this year’s free agency period.

Walker had worked as a three-year Packers starter at left tackle, rising from a seventh-round pedigree. High on most free agent rankings lists (including ours), the David Bakhtiari replacement started 48 games from 2023-25 and loomed as the Panthers’ clear-cut Ekwonu stopgap piece. The 25-year-old blocker, however, was arrested on a gun-related charge in January. A potential suspension certainly could have impacted his market, and he may need to try again in 2027. The Freeling pick certainly points to Walker, as Adam noted, being a one-year Panther.

The Freeling selection could make Walker a trade chip as well. All of Freeling’s Bulldogs starts came at left tackle, separating him from most of the top tackles in this year’s class (as Spencer Fano, Francis Mauigoa and Blake Miller primarily played RT in college). Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board ranked Freeling 22nd in this class, slotting Proctor 24th and Lomu 30th. Miami chose Proctor at No. 12, narrowing Carolina’s focus at the position.

Carolina’s Freeling pick also signals Ekwonu may be on the move as a 2027 free agent. Stopping the Panthers’ yearslong carousel at left tackle as the No. 6 overall pick in 2022, Ekwonu expressed interest in an extension last year. In December, a report indicated a 2026 extension for the NC State product would be a Panther priority. Unfortunately for the previously durable blocker, a patellar tendon tear sustained in the wild-card round represents bad timing. Ekwonu, 25, will likely need to display good form coming off the major knee injury. And the Panthers will be developing a cheaper option while he does so.

It could be possible for the Panthers to retain both Ekwonu and Freeling beyond 2026. Moton is entering an age-32 season, and no guaranteed money remains on the 10th-year RT’s deal beyond this year. Freeling being a long-term RT option, with Ekwonu eventually returning to the blind side, may be a path the team considers. For now, though, the Panthers have an interesting setup at tackle. While Walker and Moton figure to start the season at those spots, Carolina’s 2027 configuration figures to look different.

2 comments 2026 NFL Draft Carolina Panthers

2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

By | at May 1, 2026 11:00 pm

May 1 marked the deadline for teams to decide on fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
  • Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position

PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth. Twenty-two options were exercised this year. Here is how each team with an option decision proceeded with 2023 first-round contracts:

  1. QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): Exercised
  2. QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
  3. DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
  4. QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM): Declined
  5. CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
  6. LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM): Exercised
  7. DE Tyree Wilson, Saints ($14.48MM): Declined
  8. RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM): Exercised
  9. DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM): Exercised
  10. RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM): Exercised
  11. G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM): Exercised
  12. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM): Exercised
  13. LB Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM): Exercised
  14. LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): Declined
  15. DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): Exercised
  16. CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM): Declined
  17. CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
  18. LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM): Declined
  19. DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM): Exercised
  20. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised
  21. WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM): Exercised
  22. WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): Exercised
  23. WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): Exercised
  24. CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM): Declined
  25. TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
  26. DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM): Declined
  27. RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
  28. DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM): Declined
  29. DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
  30. LB Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM): Exercised
  31. DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($14.48MM): Declined
11 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Offseason Outlook PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors