Carolina Panthers confirm picking up Ickey Ekwonu’s fifth-year option, securing him through 2026 at $17.56 million.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Dan Morgan broke some news in the middle of the Carolina Panthers post-NFL Draft press conference:
“We’re going to pick Ickey’s option up.”
The former first round pick in 2022 will now remain through the 2026 season. It’s reported that he will now make $17.56 million.
“We are gonna pick up Ickey’s fifth-year option just to kind of get it out of the way. I just actually notified him,” said Morgan.
Ekwonu has started all 49 games that he has played in over the last three seasons. The Charlotte native has had an up and down career thus far with the Panthers but has been highly regarded as a dominant run blocker.
The Panthers did not draft any offensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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