Report: Panthers to Release Center Bradley Bozeman

Carolina will have a new center in 2024.

The Carolina Panthers are expected to release veteran center Bradley Bozeman at the start of the new league year, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Bozeman inked a one-year deal with Carolina in 2022 after spending the first four years of his career in Baltimore. Nearly halfway through the season, he took over as the starting center and helped pave the way for D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard in the run game, creating a physical downhill attack that nearly took Carolina to an NFC South division crown.

Former GM Scott Fitterer saw him as a critical piece of the o-line moving forward and awarded him a three-year, $18M deal. Unfortunately, he took a step back in 2023, as did the entire offensive line under head coach Frank Reich. Rookie quarterback Bryce Young was sacked 62 times on the season and the rushing attack never found any rhythm.

Bozeman was not only a great teammate and leader for that group up front, but he and his wife, Nikki, had a huge impact in the community with their charity work. He will be missed both on and off the field in Carolina.

Fortunately for the Panthers, there are several free agent centers that can make an impact right away along with incoming rookies Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) and Zach Frazier (West Virginia) who are viewed as late first round, early second round draft picks.

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