Why Monday wasn't a (total) disaster for the Panthers

However, look beyond the Burns fiasco and Carolina had a decent day. The team agreed to terms with interior offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, investing heavily into an offensive line that desperately needed it.

The Panthers are expected to give former Dolphins right guard Hunt $100 million over five years while former Seahawks left guard Lewis is due to receive a four-year, $53 million contract.

Both are upgrades for a unit that bears responsibility for quarterback Bryce Young's ugly rookie season.

The Panthers lacked stability up front last year. 2023 fourth-rounder (114th overall) Chandler Zavala started the year at left guard but was a disaster, credited with allowing six sacks and 33 total pressures in seven games.

The smorgasbord of Calvin Throckmorton, Cade Mays, Austin Corbett, Nash Jensen and Gabe Jackson at the guard positions was marginally better but did little to protect Young, who finished the year being sacked 62 times.

He struggled throwing the ball when pressured, completing only 39.1 percent of his attempts with one touchdown and four interceptions, per Pro Football Focus.

Data from PFF shows Hunt and Lewis combined to allow four sacks on 926 pass-rush opportunities last season.

Young wasn't given much of a chance to show what he's capable of behind his offensive line. First-year head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan aren't interested in repeating the same mistake. 

Once the disappointment of the Burns saga subsides, that should be celebrated.