Panthers sign RT Taylor Moton to four-year, $72 million deal

At least one individual beat the 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise-tagged NFL players to sign new deals with their clubs. 

The Carolina Panthers confirmed roughly one hour before the deadline that they signed right tackle Taylor Moton to a new multi-year contract. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Moton signed a four-year agreement that could be worth up to $72 million and includes $43 million in guaranteed cash. 

Moton, who turns 27 years old next month, would've earned $13.754 million playing under the franchise tag for the 2021 season. The contract with an average annual value of $18 million is equal to that attached to Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles and behind only that belonging to Ryan Ramczyk of the New Orleans Saints for players at the position.  

Carolina selected Moton in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he hasn't missed a start across the past three seasons. According to Pro-Football-Reference, he didn't miss a snap during the 2018 or 2020 campaigns.