Confidence In His Performance Level
Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton has begun to consider his personal trajectory beyond 2025. With one year remaining on his contract and his 31st birthday approaching in August, Moton is confident in his physical condition and performance level, believing he’s capable of earning another deal.
“Looking forward, I do believe I have another contract in me,” Moton said, per The Athletic. “But right now my focus is on the 2025 season and making sure I do whatever I can to have the best season I can for everybody involved.”
Since being drafted by the Panthers at No. 64 overall in 2017, Moton has established himself as a reliable and underrated right tackle. This season he carries a $31.4 million cap hit, a significant figure that reflects his value.
Contract Status
Despite that large number, the Panthers have yet to restructure Moton’s contract this offseason, after doing so in past years. For now, the organization appears poised to let him finish out the current deal before making further decisions.
Moton has expressed his desire to remain in Carolina, pointing to his dedication to the team and the city. “I fall back to control what I can control,” he said. “And that’s just having the best year I possibly can for the guys, for the organization, for the city. For a lot of reasons. It’s important to me.”
Healthy And Ready For A Full Season
Last season, Moton missed games for the first time in his professional career, ending a streak of 120 consecutive appearances. Two between Weeks 6 and 7, and another in Week 17. Now, he’s focused on putting those setbacks behind him and starting a new stretch of consistent play.
“My body’s been feeling good,” Moton said. “No triceps problems right now, no knee problems,” he said. “The knees have been feeling good and excited about doing whatever I can (to play) 17 games plus, plus playoffs. Every play is a sprint, but the whole season is a marathon.”
Stability On The Offensive Line
Moton and the Panthers also benefit from rare continuity on the offensive line. Carolina retained every piece of its blocking unit this offseason. Center Austin Corbett re-signed and returns alongside guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, with Moton and Ikem Ekwonu anchoring the tackles. Backup guard Brady Christensen also re-signed, preserving the unit’s depth. Swing tackle Yosh Nijman and Cade Mays remain in place as well.
“I love the group we have right now. I’m so happy the whole offensive line is coming back. That’s something in this league (that is) very unusual,” Moton said. “To not just have the starters coming back, but all the other people ready to go behind us, it’s awesome.”
Offensive Line Among NFL’s Best In 2024
In 2024, Pro Football Focus ranked Carolina’s offensive line as the eighth-best in the NFL. That level of cohesion bodes well for quarterback Bryce Young’s development and the Panthers’ hopes of returning to the playoffs, something they haven’t done since Moton’s rookie season in 2017.
Should the offensive line continue to thrive, Moton is likely to be a driving force. And once the season concludes, he’ll turn toward the future and the contract he believes he’s earned.
