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Taylor Moton
Taylor Moton
Taylor Moton
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Taylor Moton (born August 18, 1994) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos. He was selected by the Panthers in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Moton attended Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan.[1] He played football, basketball and ran track.

College career

[edit]

Moton played at Western Michigan from 2012 to 2016.[2][3][4] During his career he set a school record with 52 career starts.[5][6]

Professional career

[edit]

Moton received an invitation to the Senior Bowl and played offensive tackle for the North who lost 16–15 to the South.[7] He attended the NFL Combine and completed all of the combine and positional drills. A dozen NFL scouts attended Western Michigan's Pro Day, as Moton only ran positional drills with 13 other prospects.[8] NFL draft experts and analysts projected him to be a second or third round pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He was ranked the fourth best offensive tackle in the draft by NFL analyst Mike Mayock and was ranked the fifth best offensive tackle by Sports Illustrated, NFLDraftScout.com, and ESPN.[9][10][11]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄4 in
(1.96 m)		 319 lb
(145 kg)		 34+1⁄8 in
(0.87 m)		 10+5⁄8 in
(0.27 m)		 5.18 s 1.84 s 3.01 s 4.58 s 7.73 s 30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		 9 ft 1 in
(2.77 m)		 23 reps
All values from NFL Combine[12][13]

The Carolina Panthers selected Moton in the second round (64th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.[14] The pick used to select Moton was acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots in a trade that sent Kony Ealy to the Patriots.[15] On May 4, 2017, the Panthers signed Moton to a four-year, $4.15 million contract with $2.28 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.16 million.[16]

Moton was named the Panthers starting right tackle in 2018, and started every game the next three seasons.[17]

Set to be an unrestricted free agent, the Panthers placed the franchise tag on Moton on March 9, 2021.[18] He signed the one-year contract two days later.[19] On July 15, 2021, Moton signed a four-year, $71.25 million contract extension with the Panthers, worth $43 million in guarantees.[20]

On August 22, 2025, Moton signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension with the Panthers, making him a top-five paid right tackle in the NFL.[21]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Taylor Moton

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Taylor Moton (born August 18, 1994) is an offensive tackle for the of the (NFL). Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 325 pounds, he is recognized for his exceptional durability and versatility as a blocker in both run and pass protection. Moton played at , where he appeared in all 52 games over his career, setting a school record for most games played, and earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference (All-MAC) honors as a senior in 2016. The selected him in the second round (64th overall) of the , marking an unexpected path to the league after he initially prepared for a career outside professional football. Since entering the , Moton has appeared in 139 regular-season games, starting 132 through ten games of the 2025 season, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Panthers' offensive line. Throughout his professional career, Moton has demonstrated remarkable consistency, becoming one of only two offensive linemen to play 100 percent of his team's offensive snaps in each season from 2018 to 2022. His reliability earned him a four-year extension worth up to $80 million in 2021, making him one of the highest-paid tackles in at the time. In 2025, he signed a two-year, $44 million extension with the Panthers through the 2027 season. In pass protection, Moton has excelled, posting the highest pass-blocking grade among right tackles from Week 10 of the 2024 season onward and ranking among the top performers league-wide in 2025 with a 72.8 pass-block grade through 11 weeks. Often described as one of the 's most underrated players, he has allowed just two sacks in 506 offensive snaps during the 2025 season while committing only four penalties.

Early life and education

Family background

Taylor Moton was born on August 18, 1994, in Lansing, Michigan. He grew up in the nearby suburb of Okemos, experiencing a family structure shaped by early loss and subsequent stability. Motton's biological father died when he was four years old, leaving his mother, Sonya Gunnings-Husband (later known as Sonya Gunnings-Moton), to raise him as a single parent initially. She remarried Delbert Husband when Moton was nine, integrating him seamlessly into the family and providing a supportive foundation during his formative years. Husband, a retired command sergeant major in the U.S. Army, developed an especially close bond with Moton, often described without the "step" qualifier due to its depth and influence on his personal growth. Sonya, who was an associate dean and professor in Michigan State University's Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, contributed to a household emphasizing education and resilience. Moton has two brothers, Andy and , who played roles in the family's mutual support system amid these changes. The stability fostered by his stepfather and mother's professional environment offered early non-athletic influences, helping Moton navigate his upbringing in a close-knit dynamic before pursuing .

High school career

Taylor Moton attended in , participating in multiple sports during his high school years. As a three-sport , he competed in football as an offensive lineman, , and , showcasing versatility and athletic prowess that drew early attention from recruiters. In football, Moton stood out as a senior in 2012, earning First-Team All-American honors and contributing significantly to Okemos's 7-4 record by anchoring the offensive line and clearing paths for the running game. His performance as a 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman led to recognition as one of the top tackles in recruiting circles, with a two-star rating from ranking him No. 178 nationally among offensive tackles and No. 54 overall in . In , he played on the during the 2011-12 season, averaging contributions like up to 25 points in a game against Jackson High School and grabbing as many as eight rebounds in a matchup versus St. Johns High School. On the team, Moton qualified for the Division 1 state meet in the shot put, highlighting his explosive power developed through multi-sport training. Moton's high school achievements generated recruitment interest from programs including the , though he ultimately committed to in February 2012, signing as part of their 2012 recruiting class. Growing up in the Lansing area with family support, this commitment marked the beginning of his focused path toward .

College career

Western Michigan tenure

Moton enrolled at in 2012 after being recruited from in . He redshirted his freshman year, preserving a year of eligibility while acclimating to the college level. As a redshirt freshman in 2013, Moton transitioned to the offensive line and earned a starting role at right tackle, appearing in all 12 games for the Broncos. He made his collegiate debut in the season opener against State on August 30, logging significant snaps including a season-high 87 against Nicholls State on September 7. Despite the team's challenging 1-11 overall record and 1-7 mark in the (), Moton's consistent presence helped stabilize the unit during a rebuilding year under head coach . Moton's role expanded in as a sophomore, where he started all 13 games at right tackle for a Broncos squad that improved to an 8-5 record and 6-2 in the MAC. His blocking supported a rushing attack led by freshman standout Jarvion Franklin, contributing to the team's first bowl appearance in a with a berth in the against Air Force on December 20, though the team lost 24-37. The following year, in , Moton shifted inside to right guard and started every one of the 13 contests, aiding Western Michigan's continued progress to an 8-5 finish, including a victory in the Bahamas Bowl against , 45-31, on December 24. Entering his senior season in 2016, Moton returned to right tackle and anchored the line for all 14 games, setting a school record with 52 consecutive career starts. His efforts were integral to one of the program's most successful campaigns, as the Broncos achieved a 13-1 overall record, went undefeated in MAC play at 8-0 to claim the conference championship on December 2, and earned a spot in the against on January 2, 2017. During the year, the offensive line ranked among the nation's top units in pass protection, allowing just 15 sacks—the 11th fewest nationally—while facilitating multiple 300-yard rushing performances, including 281 yards against Akron on October 15.

College honors

During his senior season at Western Michigan in 2016, Taylor Moton earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference (All-MAC) honors as an offensive tackle, recognizing his pivotal role in the Broncos' offensive line that supported a high-powered rushing attack. He was also named to the (FWAA) All-American team, becoming the first Western Michigan offensive lineman to receive such recognition since Kevin Haverdink in 1988, and garnered second-team All-American honors from other outlets. Moton's performance that year was marked by exceptional pass protection, where he surrendered just two quarterback hits and eight hurries over 14 starts, earning him the ninth-highest overall grade (83.6) among offensive tackles according to . These efforts contributed to his selection for the 2016 watch list, awarded to the nation's top interior lineman. Additionally, he set a Western Michigan record with 52 career starts, underscoring his reliability on the line. Academically, Moton was honored as a 2016 MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, maintaining a 3.28 GPA while majoring in accountancy, one of seven Western Michigan football players to receive the award that year. His college career culminated with an invitation to the 2017 , where he showcased his skills for scouts as part of the North team.

Professional career

2017 NFL Draft and contracts

Taylor Moton was selected by the in the second round, 64th overall, of the . His college performance at Western Michigan, including multiple All-American honors, contributed to his draft stock as a versatile offensive tackle prospect. Following the draft, Moton signed a four-year rookie contract worth $4,158,152, which included a $1,164,110 and $2,283,117 in guarantees. The deal ran through the 2020 season and positioned him as a developmental starter on the ' offensive line. As Moton's rookie contract expired, the Panthers applied the to him on March 9, 2021, securing a one-year tender worth $13.754 million. Moton signed the tender shortly after, on March 11, 2021, ensuring his presence for the 2021 season while negotiations continued. Ahead of the July 15 deadline to sign a long-term extension, the Panthers and Moton agreed to a four-year, $71.25 million contract on that date, incorporating the franchise tag year to create a five-year pact valued at approximately $85 million overall, with $43 million guaranteed at signing. This extension, averaging $17 million annually, ranked Moton among the NFL's highest-paid right tackles at the time. Entering the final year of his 2021 extension, Moton signed a two-year, $44 million extension with the Panthers on August 22, 2025, keeping him with the team through the 2027 season. The deal included $40 million in guarantees and an average annual value of $22 million, tying him for third among right tackles in AAV and solidifying his status as one of the league's top-paid offensive linemen. Throughout his career, Moton has remained with the Panthers without reported trade rumors or holdouts.

Carolina Panthers performance

Moton began his NFL career with the in 2017 as a second-round draft pick, appearing in all 16 regular-season games and one playoff contest primarily as a reserve offensive lineman and special teams contributor, where he focused on adapting to the professional level during a with limited starting opportunities. In 2018, Moton experienced a significant breakthrough, securing the starting right tackle position and playing every offensive snap across all 16 games, which contributed to the Panthers' offense ranking fourth in the with 133.5 rushing yards per game. His performance that year earned recognition as a breakout player, with grading him as the highest-rated right tackle through the early weeks of the season. From 2018 through 2023, Moton established himself as a of the Panthers' offensive line, starting all 104 consecutive games during that span and playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps in each of the five seasons from 2018 to 2022—a franchise record for durability since 2010 and one shared by only one other player in that period. He maintained this reliability into 2023, starting all 17 games and excelling in pass protection by allowing just one sack and zero quarterback hits, tying for the fewest such pressures among qualified offensive tackles league-wide. Despite consistent high-level play, Moton has yet to earn a selection, though his steady contributions have positioned him as one of the team's most underappreciated players. Entering the 2024 and 2025 seasons amid the Panthers' offensive line rebuild following a challenging 2023 campaign, Moton started 14 of 17 games in 2024 before a left injury ended his ironman streak of 104 consecutive starts in October against the , marking the first significant missed time in his career. He returned for the 2025 season opener and has appeared in 10 games through Week 10, continuing to anchor the right tackle spot and providing stability with strong pass-blocking grades, including a 79.8 rating early in the year that highlighted his effectiveness against elite edge rushers. Notable moments include his reserve role protecting Cam Newton during the Panthers' 2017 playoff appearance and his 2023 performance shutting down top pass rushers, underscoring his evolution into a reliable starter essential to the team's ground game and safety.

Career statistics

Taylor Moton has appeared in 139 regular-season games with 122 starts over his through 10 games of the 2025 season. As an offensive tackle, his durability is evidenced by participation in over 7,900 offensive , with annual totals frequently surpassing 1,000 in seasons where he started all games. Advanced metrics highlight his pass protection efficiency, including a pass-blocking grade of around 80 in peak years and low sack allowances relative to snap volume. The following table summarizes Moton's year-by-year regular-season games played (GP) and starts (GS):
YearTeamGPGS
2017CAR160
2018CAR1616
2019CAR1616
2020CAR1616
2021CAR1717
2022CAR1717
2023CAR1717
2024CAR1414
2025CAR109
Career139122
Data sourced from Pro-Football-Reference.com. Moton's offensive line performance includes limited sacks allowed and penalties, reflecting his reliability in protection schemes. In 2024, he permitted just one sack across 538 pass-blocking snaps while committing zero holding or penalties. Through 10 games in 2025, he has allowed two sacks and drawn four penalties, with an overall PFF grade of 74.2 ranking him 20th among tackles. His snap counts underscore consistent usage, reaching 1,149 in both 2021 and 2023, tying into extended starting streaks that have anchored the Panthers' line. Career-wide, Moton has never exceeded five sacks allowed in a season, maintaining a pass-blocking above 97 in multiple years.

Personal life

Family

Taylor Moton experienced the loss of his biological at age 4, an event that instilled early resilience in him as he navigated life thereafter. His mother, Sonya Gunnings-Husband, remarried Delbert Husband, a retired U.S. , when Moton was 9 years old; the transition was seamless, with Moton viewing him fully as his without qualifiers like "step." This blended structure provided steady support during Moton's upbringing and into his professional career. Sonya, an associate dean and professor at , continues to offer unwavering encouragement, emphasizing Moton's focus and character. Following his NFL draft, the family relocated elements to , where Moton purchased a home for his mother in the Gastonia area—near her family roots—enabling her earlier retirement and deeper connections with relatives, including summers reminiscent of her childhood visits to local spots like Tony's Ice Cream. Moton's maternal grandfather, Dr. Thomas Gunnings, a Gastonia native and former standout athlete at Highland High School and Winston-Salem State, was inducted into the Gaston County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018, with Moton delivering the induction speech to honor his influence. A pivotal family moment came on draft night in 2017, when over 30 relatives and friends gathered in his parents' , basement; Sonya hovered tearfully nearby as her son received the call from the , while Delbert joined in the celebration amid flashing cameras. In June 2020, Moton welcomed his son, Thomas Winston Moton (7 pounds, 1 ounce), into the family, marking a new chapter in his personal life.

Community involvement

Taylor Moton has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, focusing on youth development in his hometown area of Michigan and educational support in North Carolina. Since 2020, Moton has organized the annual 517 Youth Football Camp in Lansing, Michigan, a free, non-contact program designed for children entering grades 3 through 8. The event, held at the Hope Sports Complex, provides participants with instruction on football fundamentals, teamwork, and life skills from professional coaches. By 2022, attendance had grown to more than 400 children, a significant increase from the roughly 100 attendees in the camp's earlier years. The fifth edition took place in June 2024, followed by the sixth in July 2025, both drawing hundreds of local youth. Moton partners with the Greater Lansing Football Legends, a group of area NFL alumni, to recruit guest instructors including current and former players from the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Michigan State University Spartans. In , Moton has engaged in literacy promotion through the ' Tackle Reading program. During Read Across America Week in March 2025, he visited North Elementary School in Kings Mountain to lead an assembly, surprising students by reading an excerpt from a book and emphasizing the importance of reading. His involvement in Panthers education initiatives also includes a 2020 collaboration with team owner , where they announced a $120,000 mid-year grant to supply classroom resources for 800 teachers in the district, distributed via partners such as Classroom Central. Moton's family ties to nearby Gastonia have supported his participation in these local efforts.

References

  1. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/2973051/taylor-moton
  2. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MotoTa00.htm
  3. https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/taylor-moton/
  4. https://wmubroncos.com/news/2017/4/28/football-taylor-moton-drafted-by-carolina-panthers
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vqx1GLFNcU
  6. https://www.lines.com/nfl/players/taylor-moton-18950
  7. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-extend-veteran-right-tackle-taylor-moton
  8. https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/onsi/news/carolina-panthers-ot-named-one-of-nfl-s-most-underrated-players
  9. https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/taylor-moton/11819
  10. https://www.panthers.com/news/taylor-moton-a-cornerstone-for-the-panthers-and-his-family
  11. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/football/2016/12/08/okemos-grad-taylor-moton-won-big-western-michigan/95113736/
  12. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4864375/2023/09/15/panthers-taylor-moton-consecutive-games-streak/
  13. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/taylor-moton.html
  14. https://wmubroncos.com/sports/football/roster/taylor-moton/4333
  15. http://www.homtv.net/index_homtv.asp?view=story&news_id=9022
  16. https://www.usatodayhss.com/2012/athlete-of-the-year-okemos-player-taylor-motons-character-lauded
  17. https://www.maxpreps.com/mi/okemos/okemos-wolves/athletes/taylor-moton/?careerid=m1mroe8h5ea22
  18. https://www.maxpreps.com/mi/okemos/okemos-wolves/athletes/taylor-moton/basketball/stats/?careerid=m1mroe8h5ea22
  19. https://247sports.com/player/taylor-moton-13935/college-153558/
  20. https://www.wilx.com/2025/07/13/lansing-legend-taylor-moton-hosts-his-6th-annual-517-youth-camp/
  21. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/2014-schedule.html
  22. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/2015.html
  23. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/western-michigan/2016.html
  24. https://getsomemaction.com/news/2016/11/29/FB_1129165540.aspx
  25. https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/30468/
  26. https://wmich.edu/news/2016/12/36963
  27. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/12/14/okemos-grad-taylor-moton-named-fwaa-all-american/95371594/
  28. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2017/04/28/panthers-pick-western-michigans-moton/101057222/
  29. https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-scouting-report-taylor-moton-g-western-michigan
  30. https://wmubroncos.com/news/2016/7/8/211058490.aspx
  31. https://wmich.edu/news/2016/12/37050
  32. https://www.freep.com/videos/sports/nfl/2017/01/25/wmu%27s-taylor-moton-%27wonderful-opportunity%27-senior-bowl/97032312/
  33. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-draft-taylor-moton-in-second-round-18795704
  34. https://www.hustlebelt.com/2017/4/28/15367132/2017-nfl-draft-pick-taylor-moton-carolina-panthers-western-michigan-second-round
  35. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/21806/taylor-moton
  36. https://www.panthers.com/news/entire-2017-draft-class-now-under-contract-18825714
  37. https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-place-franchise-tag-on-right-tackle-taylor-moton
  38. https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-ol-taylor-moton-signs-franchise-tender-two-days-after-being-franchise-t
  39. https://www.nfl.com/news/taylor-moton-panthers-four-year-72m-contract-tag-deadline
  40. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31823674/carolina-panthers-ot-taylor-moton-reach-four-year-72m-extension-sources-say
  41. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-friday-aug-22
  42. https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/taylor-moton/career
  43. https://www.panthers.com/news/taylor-moton-singled-out-for-strong-second-season
  44. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/26/pff-taylor-moton-highest-graded-rt-of-2018-season-so-far/
  45. https://www.reddit.com/r/panthers/comments/19a0r3h/ellis_2023_panthers_rt_taylor_moton_allowed_1/
  46. https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/nfl-com-picks-taylor-moton-as-carolina-panthers-most-underappreciated-player-01jvyyefay1g
  47. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5834909/2024/10/11/panthers-taylor-moton-ironman-streak-ends/
  48. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/2973051/taylor-moton
  49. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6461796/2025/07/01/panthers-taylor-moton-ironman-offensive-line/
  50. https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-taylor-moton-lands-pff-182538698.html
  51. https://www.gastongazette.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/11/06/gastonia-connection-panthers-offensive-lineman-reflects-on-inducting-his-grandfather/9149818007/
  52. https://www.gastongazette.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/09/03/thomas-gunnings-taylor-motons-grandfather-muhsin-muhammads-role-model-and-gastonia-native/18906226007/
  53. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/2017/04/29/inside-nfl-draft-night-taylor-moton-new-carolina-panther/101063086/
  54. https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2020/06/14/panthers-taylor-moton-welcomes-son-thomas/
  55. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2022/06/25/taylor-moton-carolina-panthers-michigan-state-football-517-camp/7690994001/
  56. https://www.wilx.com/2024/06/22/taylor-moton-hosts-5th-annual-517-youth-camp-with-greater-lansing-football-legends/
  57. https://www.panthers.com/video/taylor-moton-read-across-america-week-assembly
  58. https://www.panthers.com/news/david-tepper-and-community-partners-provide-120-000-mid-year-boost-to-charlotte-
  59. https://www.wbtv.com/2020/02/12/carolina-panthers-donate-worth-school-supplies-cms-elementary-classrooms/
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