Miami Dolphins free agent offensive guard Robert Hunt agreed to a five-year, $100 million deal with the Carolina Panthers on Monday, according to multiple reports.
Hunt will receive a $26.5 million bonus at signing when he can officially join the team on Wednesday, the first day of the new league year.
Hunt was a second-round pick in 2020 and is noted as a phenomenal, agile athlete at 6-6, 335 pounds. A starter at guard for the Dolphins, Hunt also played right tackle for Miami.
At $20 million per season, Hunt is among the highest-paid players at the position in the NFL.
First-year Panthers coach Dave Canales emphasized the need for improved blocking to benefit quarterback Bryce Young and repeated at the NFL Scouting Combine that Carolina will be unwavering in a commitment to run the ball.
To help free up cap space, safety Vonn Bell was released on Monday before he was due a $3 million roster bonus, according to multiple reports.
Releasing Bell creates $1.05 million under the salary cap for Carolina in 2024.
Bell spent just one season with the Panthers, who signed the former Bengals safety on the opening day of free agency last March.
Bell, 29, missed four games last season after starting 48 the previous three seasons with the Bengals. He had never missed more than three games in a season due to injury before 2023.
Bell spent the first four seasons of his career with the Saints and has 705 tackles, 9.5 sacks and seven interceptions in 122 career games.
Carolina confirmed another move Monday, re-signing long-snapper JJ Jansen to a one-year deal. Jansen, 38, owns the franchise record with 243 games played.
