The Carolina Panthers thought they were buying stability when they handed Robert Hunt a four-year, $100 million deal in 2024. Instead, the right side of the offensive line is now raising fresh questions, and rookie tackle Monroe Freeling is part of the conversation.
Offensive line coach Joe Gilbert recently pointed to the chemistry between Hunt and Freeling as one reason the veteran guard has not looked like the player Carolina expected. Hunt was a Pro Bowl guard in 2024, then missed almost the entire 2025 season with a torn biceps injury. In 2026, he has not consistently played at that same level.
“I think part of it goes to working with a young guy with Monroe and getting that comfortability,” Gilbert stated.
That matters because Hunt is no longer working next to Taylor Moton, one of the Panthers’ most experienced offensive linemen. Instead, he is lined up beside Freeling, the rookie tackle Carolina took with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Georgia. Freeling came in with plenty of hype, but he is still learning the speed and demands of the NFL.
The Panthers need that side of the line to settle down. They are trying to keep Bryce Young protected and create room for their running backs, and right now the right edge is making both jobs tougher.
Still, Hunt’s issues cannot be pinned entirely on the rookie. Carolina paid him like a top-tier guard, and the team needs more from him than it is getting at the moment. There have been some signs of improvement in recent weeks, but he is still a long way from the level the Panthers expected when they signed him in free agency.
The organization did not draft Freeling expecting him to become a liability for the rest of the line. The belief is that he can grow into a reliable starter. For now, though, his learning curve is affecting more than just his own play.
There is time for Freeling to develop, but not unlimited time. If Hunt keeps struggling alongside him, Carolina will have to find a way to get both players performing better.
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