Panthers make Taylor Moton NFL’s 2nd highest-paid RT in new contract extension
The Carolina Panthers have pulled off a massive move ahead of Thursday’s deadline, signing offensive tackle Taylor Moton to a four-year extension.
With the deadline to sign a franchised-tagged player to an extension arriving at 4 p.m. ET, the Carolina Panthers have worked their magic right before the buzzer. That’s because standout offensive tackle Taylor Moton has finally gotten paid.
The Panthers announced they’ve agreed to an extension with Moton, signing him to a four-year, $72 million deal. Of that money, a whopping $43 million is guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Panthers and OT Taylor Moton agreed to a mammoth four-year, $72 million extension that includes $43 million guaranteed at signing, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2021
And so there is at least one blockbuster deal that beats today’s deadline for franchise players to sign extensions.
The $18 million per year average ties Moten as the second-highest-paid right tackle in the NFL, with Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles and behind newly-extended Ryan Ramczyk of the New Orleans Saints. The guaranteed money is the third-most given to a right tackle and seventh among all tackles.
Panthers make Taylor Moton 2nd-highest-paid RT in the NFL
Moton, 26, has been as steady as can be for Carolina from the moment he joined the organization in 2017. He’s appeared in 64 games in those four years. In the past three seasons, he’s started every game at right tackle.
In 2020, he didn’t miss a single snap. That speaks to how dependable he’s been at going to battle in the trenches for the Panthers. Moton had previously signed his franchise tender with the team that was set to bring him in $13.75 million for 2021. Now, though, the two sides took things to a new level with this head-turning new contract.
Moton is the straw that stirs the drink for the offensive line and he’ll of course be looked at to power things when it comes to blocking for new quarterback Sam Darnold. At the same time, star running back Christian McCaffrey will be fully healthy for next season after only appearing in three games due to his ankle and shoulder injuries.
Despite that rough 2020, Carolina is hoping to make plenty of noise in the NFC South and try and push for a postseason berth. Moton will have plenty to say about that, and he’ll now be doing so as an even richer man.
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