The Panthers May Have Invested Too Much in the Offensive Line

The Panthers spent a lot on the tackle position this offseason.

Green Bay Packers tackle Rasheed Walker (63) against the Arizona Cardinals | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

By and large, the Carolina Panthers are done adding anything for the 2026 season. They will parse through the free agent signings, draft choices, and undrafted free agents in the coming months as they set the roster for Week 1.

With that in mind, we can safely assess what the Panthers did, knowing it is more than likely complete. We can look at the improvements made on the defense, the additions to the offensive line, and the new weapons without the caveat that more in the draft or more in free agency could be coming.

And in doing so, it looks like the Panthers might have overinvested in the offensive line.

Did the Panthers spend too much on the offensive line?

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Monroe Freeling is selected by the Carolina Panthers | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Panthers came into the offseason needing a center and a left tackle with Cade Mays gone in free agency and Ikem Ekwonu recovering from what is likely a season-ending injury for 2026. He is highly unlikely to play in his contract year.

After free agency, though, the Panthers had seemingly addressed the needs enough. Luke Fortner is a more-than-capable center, and Rasheed Walker was viewed as one of the best tackles available on the market.

They were both on one-year deals, but it seemingly allowed the Panthers some flexibility in the draft. However, GM Dan Morgan still added up front, specifically to those two positions. He spent the first-round pick on left tackle Monroe Freeling before grabbing Sam Hecht (incredible value) in the fifth.

They are both good players, and both have a chance to start in 2026. Having a chance to start is good for a fifth-round pick, but the Panthers had far too many holes to really add someone who's not a guaranteed starter with the 19th overall pick.

SI's Connor Orr put it well, saying, "On the downside, the team may have overinvested in the offensive line, using the No. 19 pick in the draft on Freeling, despite signing Walker as an insurance player in case Ikem Ekwonu is forced to miss time due to his significant knee injury. There’s also veteran Taylor Moton, giving the Panthers four starting-caliber tackles."

When Ekwonu returns, which might happen before the season is over, the Panthers will simply have far too many tackles. It was smart to bring in a stopgap, and the Panthers did need to look ahead at the contract situations of Walker, Ekwonu (FAs after this year), and Moton (after 2027).

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) looks on before the game | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

"Carolina probably would have been better off using its first-round pick on a defender to complete the makeover along the front," Orr admitted. The Panthers could've nabbed safety Dillon Thieneman, who many thought they'd be interested in.

The offensive line is in good shape now, but it came at a cost. And it might've been a little too much for a team that still had holes in other places.