New Carolina Panthers guard Robert Hunt was quick to share his big-ticket purchase plan with a portion of his $100 million contract – a Tesla Cybertruck. He expressed his desire for the futuristic-looking all-terrain vehicle, emphasizing that it has been a long-standing wish and a reward he promised himself upon securing the deal. Although the Cybertruck is a luxury, Hunt’s addition to the team was a necessity, particularly in protecting the investment in quarterback Bryce Young, who faced a high number of sacks in the previous season. To address this, the Panthers made Hunt the third-highest paid guard in the NFL, alongside signing Damien Lewis to a significant deal, making their combined salaries the second highest for a guard tandem in the league, behind the Indianapolis Colts’ Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith.
Taking Carolina from the 19th spot in the NFL in terms of salary cap space allocated to guards in 2023 to fifth in 2024 was a significant move. This shift was crucial as the team lacked quality guards and had no solid center on the roster, according to Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian. This upgrade aimed at protecting Bryce and providing him with a clean pocket to throw from. Similar strategies were employed by successful teams like the New Orleans Saints to support shorter quarterbacks effectively. This investment in guards is seen as a smart move by Polian, comparable to the actions of other successful teams in the past. The hope is that this upgrade in guards will significantly improve the performance of the Panthers, who struggled with inconsistency at the guard position in the previous season. The fact that most of the cap space is not yet allocated to the offensive line, especially with a rookie left tackle on board, made this decision more feasible for Carolina.
