Panthers & G Trai Turner Have Had Preliminary Extension Talks

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers and G Trai Turner have had preliminary extension talks.

However, Person adds that it’s going to cost the Panthers a lot to get Turner under contract long-term after how well he’s played and the contracts handed out in free agency a few months ago.

While the Panthers do have their franchise tag at their disposal next year, Person says it seems unlikely they would use it on Turner, given that there isn’t a specific tag for the guard position and would instead factor in offensive tackle salaries.

Turner, 23 is a former third-round pick of the Panthers back in 2014. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $2.79 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $690,000 before testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent next March.

In 2016, Turner made his second consecutive Pro Bowl and appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers. He rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 47 guard out of 72 qualifying players.