The Carolina Panthers have one of the league’s better offensive lines, and left tackle Ikem Ekwonwu is a big part of that success. A first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the North Carolina product had an up-and-down start to his career but found consistency with increased experience. Last year, the veteran finished the season with a 71.7 PFF grade, the 36th-best mark in the league out of 81 eligible players. While he’s not on a Hall of Fame trajectory, he’s a valuable starter at one of the game’s most important positions and will receive a raise when his rookie contract expires.
However, which team gives him that raise is still to be determined. The Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on his contract, but that doesn’t mean an Ikem Ekwonu extension is coming soon. During a recent interview, the left tackle said it could be a while before a deal gets done.
“I have no timeline, honestly,” Ekwonu said. “I’ll let my agent and Dan and everybody kind of figure that out for themselves…all parties involved know I want to be here in Carolina long term. Hopefully, we can get that done.”
Panthers Ikem Ekwonu Has “No Timeline” For Possible Extension
Ikem Ekwonu says he wants to be with the Panthers, but the lack of contract talks is somewhat concerning. Carolina has done a good job of extending their homegrown talent lately, so they’ll probably find a way for their first-round pick to stick around on a second contract. However, if they decide he’s not a part of the team’s future, several organizations could fight for the opportunity to land a young starting-caliber tackle.
Possible Fits
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have arguably the league’s worst offensive line. While he still led his team to the playoffs, C.J. Stroud couldn’t recapture his rookie magic in 2024. If the Texans want him to be a legitimate franchise quarterback, they must do something about the offensive line. Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery is a good start, but he can’t fix this entire unit on his own. Stroud struggles against protection, and landing someone like Ikem Ekwonu from the Panthers could unlock his full potential.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs fixed their left tackle issue with first-round pick Josh Simmons, but they might have an issue on the other side of the line in 2025. Big-money free agent Jawaan Taylor has not played up to his contract, performing as one of the league’s worst right tackles since joining the AFC powerhouse. While the team cannot afford to cut him for the upcoming season, they could move on in 2026. If the Panthers are still unsure about Ikem Ekwonu, they could trade him to Kansas City for a reasonably high draft pick, although he’d need to move to the right side of the line.
San Francisco 49ers
Trent Williams is returning for another season, but the 15-year veteran isn’t getting any younger. Williams has been the gold standard at the position for over a decade, and replacing him won’t be easy. Ikem Ekwonu is not on Williams’ level, but the veteran could be an adequate starter capable of protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy.
Main Photo: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
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