2026 free agent left tackles

[PleaseCutStewart]

7 hours ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

Just re-sign Yosh Nijman and see how the draft plays out.

Yosh did good enough IMO this year. He can't guard high end edge rusher talent one-on-one, but he has done pretty well against most other types of edges

[PanthersNCSU]

Yosh, Christensen, and a draft pick of some sort should be the plan at LT. Then pray our OL got all of their injuries out this year. 

[45catfan]

13 hours ago, ProcessBlue2 said:

I think Saddiq or Styles will be available at 19 and if either are there you take them.

Styles is consistently mocked ahead of us at #19.  You want to know irony?  Several have Tampa taking him at #14.  If that happens, I may need a new TV because something will most definitely be thrown at it.

[bdog505]

Offense is what wins in todays NFL. Blindside protection is in the top 4 of required excellence needed to have success. IMO trusting a rookie is very risky

[Ornias]

Styles if he is available or a OT seems to be the play. 

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

Sadly this changes our offseason plans. We now have to draft an OT at 19. Not just because of Ickey, but because Moton is getting old as well. Assuming Ickey bounces back, the new OT can slide into Moton’s spot when he’s done.

I wanted a pass rusher, but now this issue takes precedence. We’re going to have to find one along with an ILB in FA.

Also, bring back Yosh and Brady for depth.

[Johnstonny]

15 hours ago, Admiral Ackbar said:

Perfect world yes, but this draft class isnt stellar. Top LBs will be gone I am sure and same can be said for edge rushers. I think OT, WR or TE will be in play at 19 if we are to go BPA 

You're prolly right... I'd hate to get stuck with another bum like Matt Kalil thru FA.

[raleigh-panther]

I shared the free agent list so we could see how empty that free agent shelf is

…two most important positions in football, QB and his blindside protector

i would say, what ive said before, that oline isnt as good as Panthers fans believe it is particularly for the money spent  

take a look at how much time most of the playoff team qbs have…how much does   young have?   And young is a little fella..look at the run game decline 

given the salary cap, i believe they have to go OT in the first or second Rd, looking for an OT that can play both.  Remember, Moton is held together with duct tape 

add to it serviceable backups…as for Yosh, he had his issues Saturday   He usca career backup for a reason 

defense will come in free agency 

just my thoughts. 
 

[UnluckyforSome]

It's not a good situation. There are 17 names on that list and most are not starter material. Not good. Not an enviable position to be in for sure.

We are either drafting 1 early, or we are patching up a critical position with backups and hoping for the best.

That always works out so well too.

[theinstrumental]

The FA class is really bad. If we do pick a lineman at 19, they’ll remain one of our best 5 for the foreseeable future: Icky might come back at less than 100% mobility and be better at guard, or worst case right tackle to replace Moton. 
 

It’s a huge blow, and it’ll affect our chances of building up the defense this draft. But the line was going to be a need in a year anyway. Just moved the timeline up.

[Admiral Ackbar]

17 hours ago, PleaseCutStewart said:

So apparently our plan is to never draft anyone with talent on defense and just rock a bunch of JAGs out there...

We have signed enough free agents and drafted enough talent on offense for Bryce. We can't keep hoping that random bargain bin free agents and random guys we sign off other teams practice squads turn us into a good defense...

I agree with you, but roster development has to be the hardest thing in pro sports. Its never cut and dry, and even without Ickey getting hurt we would still be in this situation. You dont draft out of necessity, you have to take the best players avaliable and at 19 it looks like there will not be any top defensive players (maybe a CB will fall to us) avaliable. Plus Moton has 1 year left probably, then what? And what if Ickey never comes back to be the same guy? And it wasnt like he was a steel wall over at LT anyways to begin with, but he was good.

Just food for thought...

Plus just to play devils advocate, our defense statistically was better than our offense this year. Some would even say our defense was the reason we made the playoffs

[strato]

53 minutes ago, Admiral Ackbar said:

I agree with you, but roster development has to be the hardest thing in pro sports. Its never cut and dry, and even without Ickey getting hurt we would still be in this situation. You dont draft out of necessity, you have to take the best players avaliable and at 19 it looks like there will not be any top defensive players (maybe a CB will fall to us) avaliable. Plus Moton has 1 year left probably, then what? And what if Ickey never comes back to be the same guy? And it wasnt like he was a steel wall over at LT anyways to begin with, but he was good.

Just food for thought...

Plus just to play devils advocate, our defense statistically was better than our offense this year. Some would even say our defense was the reason we made the playoffs

Well, cornerback could be another on that we have to act on. 2 concussions in the same year for Horn, worrisome. We could have lost 2 1st round entrenched starters forever in that one damn game. That is possible. 

Edited 1 hour ago by strato

[csx]

11 hours ago, 45catfan said:

Styles is consistently mocked ahead of us at #19.  You want to know irony?  Several have Tampa taking him at #14.  If that happens, I may need a new TV because something will most definitely be thrown at it.

Januarv mock drafts  

[strato]

15 minutes ago, csx said:

Januarv mock drafts  

Have to agree. Wait for a couple more QBs to rise and the two or three annual combine risers, then look at it. 
 

But I want a MLB or ILB too. I value them higher than the current cognoscenti seem to. 

Edited 1 hour ago by strato