Cat Scratch Reader
A look at the stars who could be extended to help the team
The Carolina Panthers are entering the 2025 season with approximately $250M in cap liabilities against a $272M salary cap. That leaves them with just shy of $21M in cap space at the moment. Based on future cap projections, they are currently working with about $150M in space in 2026 and $222M in space in 2027.
Half of the Panthers current liabilities are eaten up by their seven most expensive players. $123Mof their cap is accounted for by the contracts of Taylor Moton, Robert Hunt, Derrick Brown, Damien Lewis, Jadaveon Clowney, Jaycee Horn, and Bryce Young. With holes all over, plenty of cap space in the future, and few players signed beyond this season, Carolina is likely to extend a few contracts to open up their 2025 team building options. Today we’re taking a look at the team’s right tackle: Moton
Moton is the biggest target on Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis’ offseason to-do list, by far. The 31-year old tackle missed time this season for the first time in his career with a combination of light elbow and knee injuries. We don’t have a ton of information on the knee issue that sidelined Moton near the end of the season, but indications to date have been that it was not serious.
2025 is the last season that Moton is under contract, minus some void years. He is still an excellent tackle, a model of stability, and way too expensive. That $31M cap figure could drop by as much as two thirds with a well structured extension. That would double the Panthers cap space overnight while also securing a foundational part of the offensive line for years to come.
Moton, an eight year veteran, signed a five-year, $85M contract extension in 2021. His second contract will be one of Tilis’ first big tests. The top of the current right tackle market is currently Tampa Bay Buccaneers right tackle Tristan Wirfs. He just signed a six-year extension worth up to $160M, but with only $88M guaranteed. Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions is the only other right tackle with a contract value over $100M.
While he isn’t the best tackle in the league, arguments could be made for Moton being top 5. He would certainly have a market if the Panthers were foolish enough to let him test the waters. Expect an extension in the $90M guaranteed range that brings his 2025 cap hit down to somewhere between $8M and $15M.
