Carolina Panthers’ new head coach Matt Rhule isn’t wasting any time building his roster for the new NFL season. According to ESPN, Panthers are acquiring left tackle Russell Okung from the Los Angeles Chargers.
In order to get Okung, Panthers will reportedly send Pro Bowl right guard Trai Turner to Chargers.
Seeing Turner leave Carolina is certainly an unexpected development, as he made Pro Bowl in the last five seasons and still has two years left on his deal. However, the sources close to the situation say that the former third-round pick is asking for a new deal and will demand more than Panthers are willing to pay.
Okung, on the other hand, fills in a big need for Panthers. The team tried to find a permanent solution on the left tackle for years now, through draft and free agency but failed. They are now hoping that the 31-year-old veteran could finally give them some badly needed stability.
Russell Okung started his NFL career with Seattle Seahawks, who took him sixth overall in 2010. He spent six years in Seattle, winning a Super Bowl ring in the process, before going to Denver Broncos in 2106. Okung has been with the Chargers since 2017, starting 36 games in three seasons.
Trai Turner was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by Panthers. Since then, he played 84 games in the league, starting 80.
