{"id":430098,"date":"2026-01-22T14:18:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/430098\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T14:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:18:14","slug":"nfl-insider-predicts-steep-price-for-key-panthers-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/430098\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL insider predicts \u2018steep price\u2019 for key Panthers\u2019 player"},"content":{"rendered":"

With all 32 NFL teams eyeing the start of the new league year<\/a> on March 11, Moe Moton<\/a> of Bleacher Report identified a few unsung performers players who could cash in later in a few months. \u201cThe eight players listed below are considered under-the-radar impending free agents because they don’t have All-Pro or Pro Bowl accolades and aren’t recent first-rounders (on expiring rookie deals) who garnered high expectations coming into the league,\u201d explained Moton.<\/p>\n

When it comes to Dave Canales\u2019s NFC South champions<\/a>, there\u2019s a 2022 sixth-round draft choice that bears watching. \u201cThe Carolina Panthers may have found their long-term starting center in Cade Mays<\/a>,\u201d said Moton. \u201cOver the last two years, he’s taken the majority of snaps at the pivot. In 2025, the 26-year-old played 726 snaps without giving up a sack and committed just two penalties, per Pro Football Focus. <\/p>\n

\u201cWith Austin Corbett moving to right guard, Mays found a home <\/a>in the middle of the offensive line, snapping the ball<\/a> to quarterback Bryce Young.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mays<\/p>\n

Sep 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates with center Cade Mays (64) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

This past season, the 6\u20196\u201d, 325-pound pivot made a career-high 12 starts, and finished as PFF\u2019s No. 26th-ranked center.<\/a> There\u2019s certainly room for improvement but he\u2019s been a key part of an offensive line that has dealt with its share of key injuries in recent years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn four seasons,\u201d added Moton, \u201c52 appearances, Mays has started in 27 contests, so there’s room for him to grow with more experience. As suggested for the Panthers, their biggest priority should be building around Young\u2014keeping the quarterback-center exchange intact makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

While could be other noteworthy centers on the open market come March, Panthers\u2019 general manager Dan Morgan may want to get the four-year pro under contract sooner than later. Morgan did a great job last offseason retaining the entire starting offensive line, as well as the reserves, from 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum,\u201d said Moton, \u201cand Pro Bowler Connor McGovern will garner most of the attention among centers set to test free agency, Carolina can lock in a budding, unheralded player in Mays, though it could come at a steep price after his standout year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team is already dealing with the possible long-term loss of starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu <\/a>(ruptured patellar tendon) is already a major issue. Watching Mays depart via free agency would be another potential big blow to Canales\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

– Enjoy more free Panthers coverage with Carolina Panthers on SI –<\/p>\n

NFL insider suggests Broncos add Cam Newton after Bo Nix injury<\/a><\/p>\n

Cam Newton backs C.J. Stroud after ugly playoff showing<\/a><\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers predicted to make surprising draft choice<\/a><\/p>\n

Why the Panthers could go in a surprising direction at the NFL draft<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With all 32 NFL teams eyeing the start of the new league year on March 11, Moe Moton…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":430099,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-430098","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-nfl","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=430098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430098\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/430099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=430098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=430098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=430098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}