Ekwonu contract

[scratched]

What is to gain by waiting to pick up 5th year option on His contract? 

[Mistuh Jones]

The tinfoil hat version is they're waiting until after the draft so some teams think we might go OT in the draft? Idk lol 

[LinvilleGorge]

6 minutes ago, Mistuh Jones said:

The tinfoil hat version is they're waiting until after the draft so some teams think we might go OT in the draft? Idk lol 

Possibly. With the rumors swirling about Moton it's easy to convince yourself that it's possible that OT is a LOT higher on our list of needs than would appear at a glance. The other distinct possibility is that we feel like Icky isn't putting in the work and we want to light a fire under his ass. If it's the latter, I would expect us to ultimately pick up his option but likely not be super aggressive to sign him to a huge extension. In which case, again OT would be a lot higher on our list than most would assume. The smoke is saying OT is a lot higher on our list than most of us think IMO.

[MHS831]

Some Huddlers call him average at best, but his trajectory has been going up.  Recognize the job this OL coaching crew did this year--they were not kissing footballs--they were improving young players--Zavala is probably a starting RG on another roster; Mays outplayed Corbett; and Ekwonu is in the top half of the league as a LT. 

[Waldo]

The 5th option is an easy call. He already lit a fire himself after his 2nd season was bad. Even if he isn't a HoFer his 5th option should be an easy call. Long term negotiations shouldn't even enter into that but it should lean into it by giving a tradable year to the Panthers if he is negotiating that poorly.

The only angle I get is that it effects the draft process and Moton. That's weird because of how poorly all of that has been since Tepper showed up. They figure out how to do basic draft posturing but still keep a dead weight DC comimg off of terrible season while building a D around that? Too difficult to guess but it's going to be interesting to watch it play out. It's just too hard to expect basic competencies still. Wel will see what the hell that is really all about.

[scratched]

22 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Possibly. With the rumors swirling about Moton it's easy to convince yourself that it's possible that OT is a LOT higher on our list of needs than would appear at a glance. The other distinct possibility is that we feel like Icky isn't putting in the work and we want to light a fire under his ass. If it's the latter, I would expect us to ultimately pick up his option but likely not be super aggressive to sign him to a huge extension. In which case, again OT would be a lot higher on our list than most would assume. The smoke is saying OT is a lot higher on our list than most of us think IMO.

As most now know, because of my topic about trading Moton, I think Tackle should be pretty high on our wish list. We have a guy at LT who most on this board still don't trust, although maybe last year was the year the lights turned on, and an aging RT who is going to want a contract that keeps him here as a starter until he retires. I just don't like the position we are in at the tackle position. JMO. 

[LinvilleGorge]

22 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Some Huddlers call him average at best, but his trajectory has been going up.  Recognize the job this OL coaching crew did this year--they were not kissing footballs--they were improving young players--Zavala is probably a starting RG on another roster; Mays outplayed Corbett; and Ekwonu is in the top half of the league as a LT. 

65th in pass blocking rate is the issue. This isn't 1985 anymore. You're not paying LTs to be road grading run blockers.  He's above average for a starting LT as a run blocker. He's well below average for a starting LT as a pass blocker. The issue is that you're paying LTs primarily to be pass protectors. 

[LinvilleGorge]

2 minutes ago, scratched said:

As most now know, because of my topic about trading Moton, I think Tackle should be pretty high on our wish list. We have a guy at LT who most on this board still don't trust, although maybe last year was the year the lights turned on, and an aging RT who is going to want a contract that keeps him here as a starter until he retires. I just don't like the position we are in at the tackle position. JMO. 

For this season we look good on paper. But the future is very murky.

[scratched]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

For this season we look good on paper. But the future is very murky.

I have been crucified by the majority for that opinion.. 

[Jay Roosevelt]

I mean, it's an easy call. He's a former top-6 pick who has played well overall and is still improving. Would you prefer an all-pro for the 6th overall pick? Of course. But he's far from a bust and people tend to forget how raw he was coming out of college as well.

He actually played better, earlier than I expected he would.

[Lurk21]

58 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

Some Huddlers call him average at best, but his trajectory has been going up.  Recognize the job this OL coaching crew did this year--they were not kissing footballs--they were improving young players--Zavala is probably a starting RG on another roster; Mays outplayed Corbett; and Ekwonu is in the top half of the league as a LT. 

This offensive line staff really did work. Crazy to think, being that in Tampa they didn't do too well in run blocking. 

[scratched]

4 minutes ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

I mean, it's an easy call. He's a former top-6 pick who has played well overall and is still improving. Would you prefer an all-pro for the 6th overall pick? Of course. But he's far from a bust and people tend to forget how raw he was coming out of college as well.

He actually played better, earlier than I expected he would.

I like him at RT better then LT... His pass blocking is a problem and I'm not ready to pay him top 10 LT money which is what he will ask. 

Edited April 16, 2025 by scratched

[Gapanthersfan]

30 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

65th in pass blocking rate is the issue. This isn't 1985 anymore. You're not paying LTs to be road grading run blockers.  He's above average for a starting LT as a run blocker. He's well below average for a starting LT as a pass blocker. The issue is that you're paying LTs primarily to be pass protectors. 

And this is it. 

To me, it’s 2 things:

1. Can he get in to the top 10 in pass blocking so that this team can take that next step? 

2. Is he a DAWG? Does he eat, sleep and breathe football. Film junkie. 

The consistently good franchises in the league have DAWGs at LT who are top 10 pass blockers. ‘Good’ or even ‘pretty good’ doesn’t cut it.

This is one of the most expensive and longest term contracts a team will sign on to. Mess up and sign a guy who just ain’t it… at LT =  multi-year purgatory. The cap hit is too big, and no GM/coach will sit a guy that expensive. Career suicide. Team purgatory.

 This season is IT. If he doesn’t find himself in the top 10 in pass blocking then Dan has a real tough decision on his hands. Top teams have straight up dudes at LT.

‘Good’ LTs can get you to the playoffs, but there will always be another Von Miller on the other side of the line. Just imagine Ickey 1 on 1 with Miles Garrett.

Choose wisely. 

[Jay Roosevelt]

3 minutes ago, scratched said:

I like him at RT better then LT... His pass blocking is a problem and I'm not ready to pay him top 10 LT money which is what he will ask. 

He's not that far off from being a top-10 LT, though. Everyone assumes the league is flush with good LTs, but that really isn't the case. Even an average LT can be hard to find these days.

Ickey may not be top-10, but he's probably top-15. And he's still young with room to get better. It's not that outrageous to think he could be a top-5 LT over the next 3-5 years.