The Panthers added one of the top interior offensive linemen in the league in March when they signed former Broncos center Matt Paradis to a three-year deal. Paradis may not be the strongest center in football, but he can hold his own. Heading into the 2019 season, Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire has Paradis ranked at No. 11 at center thanks to his agility.
“Paradis will lose one-on-one strength battles from time to time, which is the only reason he’s not higher on this list—at 6’3” and 300 pounds, he’s not the prime example of a strength-based player. But he does use leverage to his advantage, and he’s great when it comes to moves that require quickness and agility—everything from combo blocks to the second level to sweeps and pulls.”
Some might argue Paradis should be ranked higher. In two of the last seasons, Pro Football Focus has graded Paradis as the second-best center in the NFL.
However, Paradis has had some lower body issues that might become a concern. Most recently, Paradis fractured his fibula in the middle of last season. The injury put him on injured reserve for the rest of the year. After he was signed by Carolina, Denver GM John Elway made some waves by saying his organization had “real concerns” about his health.
That said, if Paradis can stay on the field he should be just as effective as Ryan Kalil was in his prime, maybe more.
