Who will be the Carolina Panthers' starting left tackle heading into the 2026 NFL season after the recent signing of Rasheed Walker?
After a massive 2026 NFL Free Agency period for the Carolina Panthers, general manager Dan Morgan has done an excellent job of retooling the roster before the upcoming season.
The front office made it a priority to address the defensive side of the ball early in free agency, as the Panthers managed to sign Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end Jaelan Phillips and Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebacker Devin Lloyd. However, there was a move made this offseason that came as a surprise to the fanbase.
Amongst all the big-time signings for the organization, Morgan also made the sneaky decision to sign former Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, who was widely considered as one of the top free agents at his position. The front office signed him to a one-year, $4 million deal that could be worth up to $10 million in incentives.
Adding Walker into the mix for the 2026 season now poses an intriguing question leading up to training camp: Who will become the team’s starting left tackle with Ikem Ekwonu entering the final year of his rookie contract?
Who Takes Over as The Panthers’ Starting LT?
Oct 5, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) with the ball as guard Damien Lewis (68) and offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) block in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn ImagesOne key factor that must be considered when examining the left tackle position for Carolina next season is the injury Ekwonu sustained late in the season.
The Panthers' former 2022 first-round pick suffered a brutal ruptured patellar tendon in the team’s Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, which puts his status for the beginning of the 2026 season in question.
The signing of Walker now gives head coach Dave Canales insurance on the offensive line if Ekwonu does miss time at the beginning of the year. In addition to being a terrific depth piece, Walker could eventually find himself as the team’s starting left tackle for the majority of the 2026 season if he’s able to step up in place of Ekwonu.
While Ekwonu has proven himself to be an adequate run blocker, his inconsistency in the passing game has been a major issue for the Panthers over the past four seasons. The 25-year-old showed signs of improvement in this area in the past two years, but the potential of Walker could ultimately allow him to take over the starting role.
Panther Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Carolina Panthers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.