The more we learn about the Panthers’ first two reported signings of 2021 free agency, the less we like them.
On Monday, Adam Schefter reported the team agreed to a three-year, $13.5 million deal with former Vikings and Jets offensive lineman Pat Elflein. Shortly after, Jeremy Fowler reported that swing tackle/utility OL Cameron Erving was signing a two-year, $10 million deal.
After that news broke, Sam Monson at Pro Football Focus joked that the team accidentally sorted their free agent offensive line targets upside down.
Did the Panthers accidentally reorder their OL targets and are looking at it upside down?
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) March 15, 2021
Turns out he pretty much nailed it.
According to Ben Linsey at PFF, Erving ranks dead last in PFF’s grading system out of 151 OL with at least 1,500 snaps played since 2018. Elflein is only a few spots higher.
There are 151 offensive linemen who have played at least 1,500 offensive snaps since 2018. A few random three-year PFF grades and ranks from that group:
Pat Elflein: 50.6 (147th)
Cam Erving: 44.4 (151st)— Ben Linsey (@PFF_Linsey) March 17, 2021
Yikes.
