Carolina Panthers to sign guard Robert Hunt to massive five-year deal

The Carolina Panthers are making a huge investment in their offensive line in free agency this week. The team is reportedly signing free agent guard Robert Hunt to a five-year deal worth $100 million, according to Mike Garafolo. He’ll be one of the highest-paid guards in the league after Landon Dickerson set a new mark of $21 million per year with the Eagles on Monday.

Hunt has played the entirety of his career with the Miami Dolphins so far. He’s started 55 of 61 games played over the first four years of his career. Though he’s played some right tackle, he’s mainly started as the right guard for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. He was the Dolphins’ second-round draft pick out of Louisiana in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Now, with the Panthers, Hunt’s job is protecting 2023 first-round draft pick Bryce Young. Young took 62 sacks during his two-win rookie season.

Panthers release Vonn Bell

Just one year after signing a multi-season deal with the Carolina Panthers, veteran NFL safety Vonn Bell has reportedly been released by the team at the start of free agency. Carolina owed the defender just over $3 million if he was still on the roster as of March 16.

Joe Person, the Panthers reporter for The Athletic tweeted out Monday afternoon that Bell had been cut by the team and is now a free agent:

“Panthers are releasing S Vonn Bell, according to league source and as first reported by @TomPelissero.”

Prior to signing on in Carolina, Bell enjoyed a successful stint in Cincinnati. He was one of the backbones of the defense in the secondary when the Bengals made runs to both the 2022 Super Bowl and the 2023 AFC Championship.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.