In order to convince Robert Hunt to come to Charlotte this offseason, the Panthers made him just the fourth guard in league history to enjoy a $20MM/year contract, authorizing a five-year, $100MM accord that features $44MM in fully-guaranteed money. While Hunt’s original team, the Dolphins, were interested in retaining their 2020 second-rounder, it sounds as if Miami stopped well short of where Carolina was willing to go.
Although Hunt did not talk details, he acknowledged that the ‘Fins made an extension offer near the tail end of the 2023 campaign.
“Late in December they made an offer,” Hunt said (via Joseph Person of The Athletic (subscription required)). “I just thought it was a little disrespectful. It screamed that we’re not gonna pay.”
Hunt, 28, played in just 11 games last year due to injury, but he established himself as one of the game’s better guards after the Dolphins moved him from right tackle to the interior of the line in 2021. Pro Football Focus considered him a top-12 guard in both 2022 and 2023, and with the Panthers anxious to give second-year quarterback Bryce Young adequate protection and to improve their rushing attack, they were prepared to pay top dollar for Hunt’s services.
At 3-9, Carolina is suffering through another difficult season, but as Person notes, the club is pleased with the return on its Hunt investment. His pass-blocking metrics have regressed to a degree, so he is presently ranked as PFF’s 21st-best guard out of 73 qualified players. Those struggles in the passing game were on display during the Panthers’ recent loss to the Chiefs and defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is one of the game’s most fearsome interior rushers.
Of course, Jones gets the best of many opposing blockers, and the Panthers’ staff is not concerned about Hunt moving forward.
Said run game coordinator Harold Goodwin, “Rob had some good battles with [Jones]. Rob won some. [Jones] won some. So it was good ebb and flow to the competition. We’ve just gotta get Rob’s hands and feet more coordinated. I think … Rob was pressing because he knew who it was.”
Even with the downturn in the pass-blocking component of his game, it appears that Hunt’s efforts this season — to say nothing of his contract status — have entrenched him as one of the foundational pieces of the roster for the foreseeable future.
I understand why Hunt bet on himself on the open market, but by the same token, it’s important to recognize the cap limitations Miami was facing. There was no chance they were going to prioritize someone like Hunt
Yep. I also think playing with Tua, who gets the ball out quicker than anyone, made Hunt look better in pass protection than he would otherwise.
Agreed. Hunt is good, but is he $20 million good? I don’t know about that.
Tua keeps getting concussed and the Dolphins have the nerve to “disrespect” players on the OL? Tell me it ain’t so…lol.
I don’t know if Hunt is one of the top three guards in the league, but maybe you have a point. McDaniel’s Shanahan derived zone blocking blocking scheme and Tua’s quick release may have convinced Miami that linemen are replaceable. Connor Williams walked as well.
I still don’t think Miami is wrong for not paying Hunt $20 million a year, but I could see also how that could be a possibility. The scheme does rely on athletic (usually smaller) interior linemen, though, so having one that could move effectively is pretty important. I doubt that Miami’s offer amounted to disrespect, but I could see them saying, “If he doesn’t like it, we can find someone else.” As for Tua,well, Hunt’s pass blocking wasn’t his primary strength. He was there to get out and run block first.
Really sounds like a greedy player. Before anyone comes at me about millionaires vs billionaires I understand that. But at the same time it is a team game. Why go to a bad team and make 20 when you can be on a good team for 10 and have a chance at a Super Bowl. No mater how you look at it 10 million a year is life changing and financial freedom for the next 2-3 or more generations of your family. Obviously this year is not looking like that for Miami. You can make the argument they won’t win with Tua. But it is a safe you bet the Dolphins offered north of 10 mil a season. I do not know or care what their cap situation is. If he only got 5 mil a year it is still more money than 99% of the posters here will make.
I thought they should have tagged him but there is no way this man would’ve played on it
he leave the part out that he’s always injured and only played well under mcDaniel’s system that puts OG’s in successful positions
Would “no offer” have been more or less disrespectful? The egos with these guys . . .