Dave Gettleman picked three gems in his last NFL draft as the general manager of the Carolina Panthers. After selecting running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Curtis Samuel, Gettleman used the team’s other second-round pick on offensive tackle Taylor Moton. The three of them should serve as a solid foundation for Carolina’s offense for years to come.
McCaffrey is quickly becoming one of the top running backs in football and Samuel is rising fast after a slow rookie season. Moton got his opportunity when starting right tackle Daryl Williams went down in the season opener. He’s fine so far.
According to Pro Football Focus, Moton graded out at 76.2 for the season, which ranks him No. 4 in the NFC South at his position. Unsurprisingly, the Saints took the top two spots. Here’s the five best.
Moton was not a perfect starter by any means, but he gives the Panthers a lot more flexibility going forward as they seek to fix the offensive line.
If Carolina is ever going to get past this iteration of the Saints, they’re going to need to find a long-term partner to start opposite Moton. The time to do it will be in the upcoming draft.
