Taylor Moton has been in Carolina since 2017. The time he’s spent with the Panthers has not been the easiest. Since being selected in the 2nd round of 2017 draft, Carolina has only had one winning season and one playoff appearance – in 2017. Through the tumultuous years Moton has been one of the stable forces along the offensive line and in the locker room. Now heading into the final year of his 2-year $35 million contract uncertainty looms, and while Moton is clear that he has at least on more contract left in him, it’s unclear if that deal will be in Carolina – a thought that made offensive lineman, who is usually stoic in front of the media, emotional.
“I try not to think about it,” Moton said visibly sad about the thought of not finishing his career in Charlotte. “I’ve had some of my best years here in Carolina. I know we never won, but the city and being a Panther mean a lot to me.”
“All the blood; all the sweat; all the tears,” Taylor said when I asked him what is behind his emotion. “I’ve been through so much here. I found my family here. I had my son here. So much sacrifice has gone out on the practice field and at Bank of America Stadium. I put so much time and so much heart into it.”
Brandt Tillis, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, spoke right after Moton’s emotional presser. When asked about another contract for the veteran right tackle Tillis said they will make the best decision for the team.
“We are going to make the best decision for the organization and if that means keeping Taylor here then that’s great. If those two things align we are open to it. I’m not going to sit here and say we’re going to definitely not do it, or we definitely are. Whatever makes the best sense for the Panthers, we’ll do.”
In the mean time Moton is controlling what he can control and that’s trying to make this his most successful season in process blue.
“At the end of the day I’m focused on finishing this out the right way, if it is (my last year in Carolina). I have some good years left and a deep passion for this city, this organization, for all the guys in the locker room, the staff and everyone involved in making this go.”
