Pack in the Pros

Carolina Picks Up Former NC State All-American Ikem Ekwonu’s 5th-Year Option

Published

8 months ago

April 27, 2025

The Carolina Panthers have picked up the 5th-year option for former NC State All-American Left Tackle Ikem Ekwonu.

The Panthers drafted Ekwonu with the 6th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, signing him to a 4-year contract worth $27,568,052, with a 5th-year option.

Next season will be the final year of Ickey’s 4-year rookie contract, earning $8,771,652. In 2026, his salary will more than double, earning $17,560.

Ekwonu was a starter from Day 1 for Carolina, starting in all 49 games he’s played in.

Each season, Ickey has improved his PFF grade.

2022 – 65.3
2023 – 67.4
2024 – 71.7

Ekwonu was an elite run blocker for the Panthers in 2024, with the 13th best run blocking grade (80.5).

“I think Ickey showed us he’s a dominant run blocker,” head coach Dave Canales said earlier this spring. “I think he showed us that he is very reliable in the past in pass protection. I think he’d be the first to tell you, cleaning up some hand placement things, some footwork stuff, those are all goals of his.

“But I think we got our left tackle. I love playing with having Ickey over there and having T-Mo (Taylor Moton) on the right side. I feel pretty good about just playing ball against pretty much anybody.” (Panthers)

In 2021, Ekwonu was a Consensus All-American for the Wolfpack.

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