Ikem Ekwonu on the Carolina Panthers: ‘I want to be here’

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Carolina Panthers tackle Ikem Ekwonu wants to remain with his hometown team beyond his fifth-year option season in 2026.

Professionally and financially secure through 2026, Carolina Panthers tackle Ikem Ekwonu can now plan for his long-term future.

The Charlotte native and 2022 first-round draft choice made his NFL intentions clear to the front office: he wants to stay home.

"Obviously, all parties know, all parties involved know I want to be here in Carolina long term," Ekwonu said Thursday. "Hopefully, we can get that done."

"That" is a multi-year contract extension.  

After general manager Dan Morgan neglected to select a tackle prospect during last week's draft, the Panthers pivoted and announced the team would pick up Ekwonu's fifth-year option on his rookie deal. After struggling as a sophomore, Ekwonu rebounded last season, earning his career-best overall offensive grade (71.7), per Pro Football Focus. 

His intended path has been paved.

Is Ekwonu in the Panthers' long-term plans?

Assuming the role before the 2024 season, Morgan issued a proclamation to the team’s core. He will reward homegrown talent. In the offseason, the Panthers signed Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn to a four-year, $100 million extension after picking up his fifth-year option. Morgan also agreed to a four-year, $96 million deal with 2020 first-round defensive tackle Derrick Brown after a record-setting '23 campaign.   

“That's the goal that that's what we want to do around here,” Morgan said. “We want to reward the guys that we draft. So, obviously we have to draft well, and hopefully we’ll pay those guys. I hope we’re paying players for years to come because that means we’re drafting good and that that means we’re pinpointing the right guys.”

Is Ekwonu next?

The former Providence Day standout disclosed his offseason mindset for earning a long-term commitment from Morgan.

“Consistency,” he said. “It’s how you get paid.” 

At 24 years old, Ekwonu’s fifth-year option will be worth $17.6 million and fully guaranteed for the 2026 season.  

“It was definitely something I was hopeful for more than anything,” said Ekwonu, a three-year starter who missed just two games because of injury. 

Ekwonu’s weakness remains pass protection. Pro Football Focus ranked him 11th out of 140 tackles with an 80.5 run-blocking grade last season. He also dropped his sacks allowed to seven after yielding 11 the year before.

'I hope it stays the same'

Buoyed by last year’s free-agent additions of guards Robert Hunt and Damian Lewis and the move of Austin Corbett and Cade Mays to center, the Panthers’ offensive line developed into a strength, aiding running back Chuba Hubbard’s career-best 1,195-yard season.

Veteran tackle Taylor Moton enters the offseason program in the final year of his contract. The top two offensive line units should look similar.

“I hope it stays the same,” Ekwonu said. “(Moton) is a great teammate who helped me with my career. Obviously, we had a very close bond last year and I’m just excited to have that bond grow more and more, just having that continuity. 

“I feel like it means a lot in the offensive line room especially, so definitely excited to have everybody back. Everybody’s tuned in, ready to go to these OTAs.” 

Secure for the next two seasons, Ekwonu can start planning ahead. In time, that is. He indicated he did not have a “timetable” for his agent to contact Morgan to begin contract extension discussions. His intentions remain clear.

“I want to be here,” Ekwonu said. “I want to be part of the glory days in Carolina, and I feel like we’re right there on the precipice of it.”

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