​So far, the tenure of Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan has been marked by notable success. While there have been a few missteps, Morgan’s early moves have produced far more positives than drawbacks, including the two major signings he executed shortly after taking the reins of the front office. Those moves involved the eye-catching contracts handed out in free agency to left guard Damien Lewis (four years, $53 million) and right guard Robert Hunt (five years, $100 million) in 2024. Together, they have fortified the interior of a line that currently stands as the strongest unit on the roster.
Even though Hunt only appeared in two games last season due to a pectoral injury, his performance since joining Carolina has left a positive impression, earning him an honorable mention in ESPN’s top-10 interior lineman rankings. Senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, who surveyed league executives and coaches for the list, included a remark from an NFC scout about Hunt: “He’s not in the elite group, but as a run-game mauler, there aren’t many better. He just wasn’t healthy last year.” While Hunt didn’t play enough snaps in 2025 to qualify for the official ranking, the sentiment behind the praise rings true. In 2024, Hunt posted a 57.5 grade in pass protection from Pro Football Focus and an even more impressive 72.0 grade in run blocking, a combination that contributed to a Pro Bowl nod that year.
In any case, Hunt has firmly established himself as one of the league’s premier guards, and with another strong season, Lewis could soon join him in that elite company. For ongoing Panthers coverage and updates, follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X. This analysis originally appeared on Panthers Wire under the headline Panthers star earns honorable mention in ESPN rankings after disappointing 2025 season for better SEO.