The Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers have agreed to swap offensive linemen, with L.A. acquiring guard Trai Turner in exchange for tackle Russell Okung, the NFL Network and ESPN reported Wednesday.
The teams have agreed to the deal in principle and will complete it after the start of the league year on March 18, according to the reports.
Okung, 31, started his career with the Seattle Seahawks after they made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, played with the Denver Broncos in 2016, and spent the past three seasons with the Chargers. He was limited to just six games in 2019, starting the season on the non-football illness list after suffering a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots, then ending the season with a groin injury.
He has played in 124 career games, all starts, and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. In March 2017, he signed a four-year, $53 million deal with the Chargers.
In Carolina, he’ll be reunited with offensive line coach Pat Meyer, who worked for the Chargers from 2017-19.
Turner, 26, has been selected to five straight Pro Bowls. The Panthers selected him in the third round of the 2014 draft, and he’s played in 84 games (80 starts) since.
He has two years remaining on a four-year, $45 million contract extension that he signed with Carolina in July 2017.
— Field Level Media
