LT Ikem Ekwonu wants to remain in Carolina long term but has no timeline for an extension

[frankw]

At this point we have to keep him. I like the guy a great deal he's a very easy player to root for. I just need to see him take a few big and crucial steps forward in his development this season. I sincerely hope it happens.

[Waldo]

1 hour ago, kungfoodude said:

Yeah, it's gonna be a dicey situation depending on how it breaks. You don't want a Burns repeat where you are selling at absolute rock bottom or a Horn scenario where you are drastically overpaying for production that hasn't yet shown up.

Also, I think a lot will depend on how quickly we can fill that hole. The absolute last thing we want is to be replacing Moton and Ikey at the same time. That's a recipe for utter disaster 

I was worried after the Horn deal but this is a good sign from both sides so far. Fingers crossed.

Yeah not knowing where Moton is health wise is big. Having to address both would be less than ideal but I'm not about big pay days followed by big regrets. Maybe they can give Ickey some time at RT this year. He is smart and no way Moton is healthy for 17 games.

 

[tukafan21]

18 minutes ago, Waldo said:

I was worried after the Horn deal but this is a good sign from both sides so far. Fingers crossed.

Yeah not knowing where Moton is health wise is big. Having to address both would be less than ideal but I'm not about big pay days followed by big regrets. Maybe they can give Ickey some time at RT this year. He is smart and no way Moton is healthy for 17 games.

 

Unless you have a left handed QB, you don't move your LT to the other side if your RT gets hurt, especially if it's to see if he can be moved there full time in the future if you wanted to do that and find a new LT.

[Waldo]

20 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

Unless you have a left handed QB, you don't move your LT to the other side if your RT gets hurt, especially if it's to see if he can be moved there full time in the future if you wanted to do that and find a new LT.

Just depends on the player. Some people are more ambidextrous than others. That's why I was curious if he could make the flip or if it's doa. Gross was a great RT and he was just fine at LT. It's not the 60s anymore

[tukafan21]

Just now, Waldo said:

Just depends on the player. Some people are more ambidextrous than others. That's why I was curious if he could make the flip or if it's doa. Gross was a great RT and he was just fine at LT. It's not the 60s anymore

You still only do it if you don't have a serviceable backup RT and your only good backup OT can for whatever reason only play at LT.

Protecting your QB's blindside is far more important than the other side, unless your LT really has no business being out there to begin with (which I don't see the case with Ickey), then it's just not a move I could see any team making mid season due to an injury.

[Waldo]

26 minutes ago, tukafan21 said:

You still only do it if you don't have a serviceable backup RT and your only good backup OT can for whatever reason only play at LT.

Protecting your QB's blindside is far more important than the other side, unless your LT really has no business being out there to begin with (which I don't see the case with Ickey), then it's just not a move I could see any team making mid season due to an injury.

WTF are you talking about? Most people are not even sold on Ickey at LT, especially with a new contract comibg up, and why is BC brought back for a year if he can't do what backups do?

I have no idea if Ickey can slide to the right but if he doesn't make a big step in pass protection he isn't a lock to stay at LT for us or they would be working on a new contract already. Hell they signed an injury prone CB to a giant contrast but not Ickey. That says a lot.

 

[BEASTfromdaEAST]

I would personally resign him. The question really is, what is his value?

List of top average salary per Overthecap. 

[Davidson Deac II]

6 minutes ago, BEASTfromdaEAST said:

I would personally resign him. The question really is, what is his value?

List of top average salary per Overthecap. 

The bigger question is how much would it cost to replace him?  If we were to let him, and bring in someone better, would eat up a large chunk of cap space, probably more than if we signed him to a long term contract.  And using a draft pick on a replacement means we won't be able to use that pick on another area of concern and while we could get someone better, we might also get someone worse.  

Edited 13 hours ago by Davidson Deac II

[tukafan21]

42 minutes ago, Waldo said:

WTF are you talking about? Most people are not even sold on Ickey at LT, especially with a new contract comibg up, and why is BC brought back for a year if he can't do what backups do?

I have no idea if Ickey can slide to the right but if he doesn't make a big step in pass protection he isn't a lock to stay at LT for us or they would be working on a new contract already. Hell they signed an injury prone CB to a giant contrast but not Ickey. That says a lot.

 

My point isn't about being sold on Ickey as a forever LT, it was that he's already more than proven that he's not one of those guys who "has no business of being out there at all" as if he was that, we'd have either replaced him or moved him to guard last year instead of signing 2 of them.

So even if they were to decide to try and move him to RT in the future when Moton is gone, you still don't move him there mid-season in the event of a Moton injury and have the backup OT play on the left side, particularly if that's just "to see how he plays on the right side"

You keep your LT there, play the backup OT on the right, and then find the best solution in the offseason for moving forward.

LT is the 3rd most important position in today's game after QB and DE/Pass Rusher.  You play your best OT on the left side unless you have absolutely no option but to play them on the right for whatever reason.

Edited 13 hours ago by tukafan21

[BEASTfromdaEAST]

2 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

The bigger question is how much would it cost to replace him?  If we were to let him, and bring in someone better, would eat up a large chunk of cap space, probably more than if we signed him to a long term contract.  And using a draft pick on a replacement means we won't be able to use that pick on another area of concern and while we could get someone better, we might also get someone worse.  

THIS.   People always forget to realize when you let a young talent go someone has to replace him and honestly finding starting caliber LT on the NFL is NOT easy

[Icege]

2027 FA OTs:

• Trent Williams
• Laremy Tunsil
• Orlando Brown Jr
• Terron Armstead
• Jaylon Moore
• Charles Cross
• Ikem Ekwonu
• Matt Peart
• Chuma Edoga

Icky's deal is likely going to be based on what Charles Cross gets (or vice versa). Can't wait to get the confirmation he's gonna be here long term.

Edited 13 hours ago by Icege

[jb2288]

14 minutes ago, Icege said:

2027 FA OTs:

• Trent Williams
• Laremy Tunsil
• Orlando Brown Jr
• Terron Armstead
• Jaylon Moore
• Charles Cross
• Ikem Ekwonu
• Matt Peart
• Chuma Edoga

Icky's deal is likely going to be based on what Charles Cross gets (or vice versa). Can't wait to get the confirmation he's gonna be here long term.

I would really like to sign him before Cross gets his deal. 

[kungfoodude]

6 hours ago, frankw said:

At this point we have to keep him. I like the guy a great deal he's a very easy player to root for. I just need to see him take a few big and crucial steps forward in his development this season. I sincerely hope it happens.

Yeah, you want actual Panthers fans to succeed. Same with poor Will Levis a few years ago. You just wish the local ACTUAL Panthers fans(very rare in the first place), pan out. 

But, alas, it is what it is.

5 hours ago, Waldo said:

I was worried after the Horn deal but this is a good sign from both sides so far. Fingers crossed.

Yeah not knowing where Moton is health wise is big. Having to address both would be less than ideal but I'm not about big pay days followed by big regrets. Maybe they can give Ickey some time at RT this year. He is smart and no way Moton is healthy for 17 games.

 

I don't know if it is as simple as having Ikey switch to RT immediately. I think the cleanest switch would have been to attempt that for him as a LG. But, we spent a fuging shitload of dough on our IOL.

[PleaseCutStewart]

Curious what his price is, but definitely think we need to resign him. Hard to find a quality tackle - he's definitely improved and having a stable guard in lewis beside him has helped a ton. Still needs to work on the false start and holding penalties though