The Carolina Panthers have reportedly agreed to a contract with free agent left tackle Matt Kalil, who joins his brother Ryan on the offensive line…
The Carolina Panthers have identified a player that will hopefully shore up their left tackle position, agreeing to terms with free agent left tackle Matt Kalil.
Former Vikings' OT Matt Kalil expected to sign with brother Ryan's Panthers if no snags in final talks, per sources. Kalil brother reunion.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
There’s no question the Panthers had a need at left tackle, but the left tackle market in free agency and the draft is pretty bare. That’s why you’re hearing about Matt Kalil signing before the official period to sign actually begins.
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The former first round pick out of USC played really well early on in his career with the Minnesota Vikings, but injuries and inconsistent play led to Minnesota allowing him to walk this offseason.
Why You Should Like This Move
If you’re a fan of the Carolina Panthers, shoring up the left tackle position was a must. Adding Matt Kalil isn’t the most satisfying move you could make, but you’re getting a guy that will be 28 this season and has a chance to turn things around with a new team.
Kalil hasn’t always been the player we saw the past couple of years, so obviously you’re taking a risk that he’s going to elevate his game and keep the blind side of former MVP Cam Newton well protected.
This is also a cool move because Kalil is coming to Carolina and joining forces with his brother, center Ryan Kalil.
We knew who Kalil wanted as the Panthers’ left tackle all along:
This is an interesting move for the Panthers and we’ll wait to see the money before passing any final judgment. It’s got to be a pretty team-friendly deal, despite the fact that there was undoubtedly competition for Kalil’s services.
With the offensive line market low on supply and high on demand, it’s entirely possible that Kalil cashed in a little bit here.
The Panthers took a risk on a former first rounder in Michael Oher, who ended up playing a key role in the team’s NFC Championship run in 2015. Perhaps they can extract the best out of Matt Kalil.