Report: Panthers targeting prominent left tackle in free agency

The Carolina Panthers are looking to beef up on the offensive line. Carolina has already signed offensive guard Austin Corbett to a three-year deal worth more than $26 million, and now, the Panthers are reportedly targeting former Seattle Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown.

ESPN’s David Newton reported the Panthers interest in Brown on Sunday morning.

“The Panthers are pursuing free agent left tackle Duane Brown, per league source,” Newton tweeted. “He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection. He has been with Seattle since 2017.”

Brown was selected with the 26th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans out of Virginia Tech. He spent the first nine full seasons of his career with the Texans before being traded to the Seahawks in 2017. Brown then spent the next five years in Seattle.

In his NFL career, Brown is a five-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All-Pro. He has also been a second-team All-Pro two times over the course of his career. While Brown is 36 years old, he could still provide an immediate upgrade for the Panthers on the offensive line.

Panthers quarterbacks were sacked 52 times last season, which is the fifth-highest total in the NFL. While the Panthers are looking for an upgrade at quarterback, adding a player like Brown to the offensive line could prove to be a very smart and valuable addition, too.

What Brown would bring to the Panthers

Brown obviously has a ton of experience that he would bring to the Panthers. But he’s still capable of competing at a high level. Prior to this past season, Brown had a contract dispute with the Seahawks and held out to begin training camp. Russell Wilson, the Seahawks quarterback at the time, opened up on Brown’s value to the team, saying that he is still playing at an extremely high level despite him getting up there in age.

“Not having Duane Brown out there is a pretty significant deal because I think he’s one of the best left tackles in the game, there’s no arguing it,” Wilson said. “I think he’s as good as it gets. There’s nobody more athletic, more talented than he is. Age is just a number. He looks like he’s 28-30 out there. He’s really exceptional. So smart and physical, understands the game, and I think people fear him, to be honest with you, when they’re rushing him and playing against him.”