The Carolina Panthers are continuing to build up their offensive line through free agency. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, guard Damien Lewis is expected to sign a four-year contract with the team worth $53 million.
Lewis is the second offensive lineman Carolina added Monday after it was reported earlier in the day that guard Robert Hunt signed a five-year deal. The moves come after a season in which rookie quarterback Bryce Young was under constant pressure with an O-line that allowed 65 sacks, tied for second-most in the NFL.
Lewis brings four years of experience as an NFL starter with the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft after playing his college football at LSU.
Lewis was part of a Seahawks offensive line that gave up only 38 sacks in 2023, just a little more than half of what the Panthers allowed. He bring experience playing both left and right guard in the NFL so should be able to help Carolina in a variety of different ways.
The Panthers are coming off of a season in which they finished with an NFL-worst record of 2-15. They fired coach Frank Reich just 11 games into the season and hired Dave Canales this offseason as his replacement.
Damien Lewis the second OL Panthers signed Monday
The Carolina Panthers are making a huge investment in their offensive line in free agency this week. The team is reportedly signing free agent guard Robert Hunt to a five-year deal worth $100 million, according to Mike Garafolo. He’ll be one of the highest-paid guards in the league after Landon Dickerson set a new mark of $21 million per year with the Eagles on Monday.
Hunt has played the entirety of his career with the Miami Dolphins so far. He’s started 55 of 61 games played over the first four years of his career. Though he’s played some right tackle, he’s mainly started as the right guard for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. He was the Dolphins’ second-round draft pick out of Louisiana in the 2020 NFL Draft.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.
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