Panthers Make Smart Move, Accept Ikem Ekwonu’s 5th-Year Option

The Carolina Panthers wasted no time responding to one of their biggest hanging questions following the 2025 NFL Draft. With no offensive tackle selected during the process, it was clear that the team was trusting those already on board. Saturday, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan made it official. The team will pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round selection Ikem Ekwonu, keeping the left tackle in Carolina through 2026. It’s a move that acknowledges consistent progress and signals even higher expectations ahead.

Panthers Lock In Their Young Left Tackle

In taking up the fifth-year option on Ekwonu, the Panthers are betting on stability on an offensive line that emerged quietly as a strength last year. Ekwonu’s option is worth $17.56 million to Carolina, fully guaranteed for 2026, unless the two parties negotiate a long-term contract before that. Having sniffed around tackle prospects pre-draft, the Panthers’ decision to hold on to Ekwonu shows a clear faith that he can be a building block for years. It also fits with Dan Morgan’s desire to keep the team’s young core intact while they build around quarterback Bryce Young.

However, this is not a “run it back” move — it’s a calculated bet on Ekwonu’s upward trajectory. Just 24, Ekwonu has played 49 games over three seasons, developing into a dominant run blocker and pass protector in the making. That he was asked to surrender just one sack last season before suffering an ankle injury and graded as high as 11th of 140 tackles in PFF run-blocking grade is evidence that he’s headed in the right direction. The Panthers believe it gets better from here.

Solid Beginnings, but Space for Even Greater Development

Ekwonu’s career has been a gradual and steady development rather than immediate stardom. As a top-10 pick from NC State in 2022, the expectations were sky-high from the beginning, but like many of the younger linemen, there was a deep learning curve to climb. Early struggles, particularly in pass protection, gave way to real improvement in 2024, when he registered a sturdy 80.5 run-blocking grade and a respectable 66.2 pass-blocking grade from PFF.

Even though there’s always room for him to improve his technique, Ekwonu has shown that he’s not hesitant to work to improve. Head coach Dave Canales had already expressed his belief in Ekwonu as an elite run game force and praised his consistency in pass protection. But there is no sugarcoating it — to be a true franchise left tackle, he needs to address some footwork and hand positioning issues that occasionally pop up. Fines have also been a problem. Sweeping them up will be the first step toward taking it to the next level. Pro Bowl status — a lucrative new contract — may be on the horizon if he can achieve that.

Final Thoughts

The Panthers demonstrated sagacity, foresight in re-signing Ekwonu for another year. His growth has been incremental, but yet another gear for him to take it up another level remains. Carolina hopes last year’s jump was just the beginning of his rise to prominence. Now it’s up to Ekwonu to prove them right — and put himself among the NFL’s elite tackles.