Carolina Panthers' Costly Offensive Line at Risk of Major Regression Soon

Carolina's NFC South repeat hopes may crumble, like the offensive line has

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The theme of the Carolina Panthers' offseason has been change. Spending heavily in free agency, the Panthers entered training camp having spent the fifth-most money in the league on contracts.

Not only did Carolina make huge changes on defense, but on the offensive line, new faces are all over the line now and look to prove themselves on short-term deals.

As far as free agency goes, Carolina signed two new faces to the line. Rasheed Walker at left tackle, leaving Green Bay for Carolina, and Luke Fortner from the division rival Saints. The Panthers also used the 19th pick in the NFL Draft on Monroe Freeling, out of Georgia.

A revamped offensive line isn't always a positive. If anything, this unit only has more question marks than answers heading into the season.

Why Carolina's Offensive Line Could See Regression

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PFF's Bradley Locker dropped his predictions for the five units in the NFL that could regress in 2026 on Thursday. On that list, the Panthers' offensive line, and rightfully so. The line is revamped, but while fresh faces can be a good thing, key starters from last season's 8th-ranked offensive line won't be on the field.

Including playoffs, Cade Mays started at center for the Panthers in 13 games. Since the Wild Card loss, Mays has departed Carolina, signing with the Detroit Lions. In the regular season, Mays logged 726 snaps and allowed 0 sacks.

Luke Fortner replaces Mays, a solid, experienced starter who played for the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars. Fortner posted a 72.5 PFF pass-blocking grade. That's the seventh-highest in the NFL for centers who qualify.

Taylor Moton was set to start at right tackle in 2026, but is currently dealing with blood clots. Moton is being replaced by a rookie to start the year. Monroe Freeling does have absurd upside and was selected in the first round. Rookie linemen usually have growing pains, and Freeling was supposed to be the backup left tackle.

The one silver lining is that Freeling has experience at right tackle, logging snaps there in his junior year. Freeling has also been open and honest about not caring where he plays; this was evident at the NFL Combine, when he took snaps at center.

Then theres new personnel at left tackle as well; Rasheed Walker takes over starting duties. Walker wouldn't have been needed if Ikem Ekwonu wasn't injured, though. Ekwonu will likely miss the entire 2026 season due to a torn patellar tendon suffered in the Wild Card loss against the Rams.

Playing 942 snaps in 2025, Ekwonu only gave up 5 sacks in the season. Now, in his first year in a new system, Walker is supposed to be a stable, and reliable piece of this pass protection, especially as he fights for a long-term deal, whether it's in Carolina or not.

Continuity is key for a successful offensive line. Carolina has clearly lost that to begin the 2026 NFL season. In the last two years, the Panthers are 0-2 to begin the season; that trend may very well continue if this unit struggles to gel out of the gate.

Why Regression Would Be a Disaster for Panthers

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$102.3 million, thats how expensive the Panthers' offensive line is in 2026. Spending over 30% of the salary cap space on a unit means it needs to be not just good, but consistently good.

Carolina has multiple players who have just one year left on their deals, including Ekwonu, who is making a lofty $17.56 million this season whilst recovering from injury.

Regression up front also means regression from Bryce Young, who enters a pivotal contract season and is under more pressure than almost any other QB in the NFL. The last thing that the Panthers want to do is make any drastic moves. Now it's up to both Young and the trenches up front to step forward.