Report: Panthers Sign Dolphins Guard Robert Hunt

Reinforcements for the offensive line are on the way.

Much ink has been spilled about the porous Carolina offensive line. On day one of free agency, Dan Morgan has taken a step to plug the holes and protect his franchise quarterback.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Carolina is signing former Miami Dolphin Robert Hunt to a massive deal. 

5 year 100m for Robert Hunt and the #Dolphins. Massive payday! 63M guaranteed. https://t.co/fD7kqRr5G2

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 11, 2024

Hunt's deal with the Panthers will pay the big man $100 million over five years. If the reported numbers are correct, Hunt would be the second highest paid guard in the NFL behind only Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons.

For a team with little cap space and a laundry list of issues, many didn't expect the Panthers to be active with contracts of this size early on in free agency. The new front office regime of Dan Morgan and Brandt Tillis hammered out a contract with Hunt just hours into the legal bargaining period to anchor their offensive line for the next five seasons.

Hunt was a stalwart for the Dolphins. The talented guard allowed a single sack and was only penalized two times in 2023 according to PFF. The analytics website gave him a 77.1 grade for his work last season, one of the top marks at his position.

The fourth-year guard was drafted out of Louisiana-Lafayette in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. His 6'6", 330 pound frame is physical, but also versatile. In 55 career starts, Hunt has played 45 games at right guard and 11 at right tackle.

The signing of Hunt brings the offensive line of Carolina into clearer focus. Ikem Ekwonu will start at left tackle, Taylor Moton will start at right tackle, and Hunt will likely start at right guard. Brady Christensen is the incumbent left guard and if he can return to his pre-injury form, will slot back into the position he won in 2022. Center is now the line's main focus.