We’re counting down the days until the Panthers kick off the 2024 season.
We’re officially 68 days away from the Carolina Panthers kicking off the 2024 NFL season and it’s time for our annual roster countdown to highlight the players on the Panthers’ roster. Today, we’re taking a closer look at No. 68 — offensive guard Damien Lewis.
After an abysmal season for new quarterback Bryce Young in year one, the Panthers went into the offseason looking to beef up the interior of the offensive line. Emphasis on the beef. One of the very first free agency signings new GM Dan Morgan made was offensive guard Damien Lewis, who got a four year, $53 million contract. The 6’2”, 327 lbs Lewis was a third round pick of the Seattle Seahawks (69th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft. Having played out his rookie contract with the team, he hit free agency this offseason, where the Panthers saw their opportunity to pounce.
In his rookie season, Seattle played Lewis at right guard (where he earned NFL All-Rookie Team honors) before switching him to left guard for the past three seasons. He displayed a ton of discipline for a young player, only committing 23 accepted penalties in his career to this point. Lewis is set to be the starting left guard for the Panthers in head coach Dave Canales’s first season at the helm. He’s a mauler of a run blocker, which fits right in with what Canales wants his offense to look like.
Ironically, Lewis could have been a Panther to begin with. In the 2020 Draft, then GM Marty Hurney fell in love with a young safety prospect named Jeremy Chinn. Worried he might not fall to the Panthers pick at 69, Hurney packaged 69 and 148 (which became defensive lineman Alton Robinson) for the Seahawks pick at 64. Chinn signed with the Washington Commanders this offseason after playing out his own rookie contract in Carolina.
What do you expect to see from Damien Lewis this year, Panthers fans? Scroll on down to the comments and share your thoughts with us!
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