Taylor Moton

Taylor Moton's Biography

Taylor Moton, an American professional football offensive tackle renowned for his impeccable skills, was born on August 18, 1994. He is a prominent figure in the Carolina Panthers team of the National Football League (NFL). Before embarking on his professional journey, Taylor cut his teeth at the college level while playing for Western Michigan.

Raised in Okemos, Michigan, Moton attended Okemos High School where he developed his passion for football. His athletic abilities were not just confined to American football, as he also dabbled in basketball and channelled his energy on the track. Throughout his time at Okemos High, Moton refined his skills in these sports, proudly representing his school and showcasing his natural aptitude and enthusiasm.

Unsurprisingly, Moton’s talent and dedication didn’t go unnoticed, and he continued his athletic journey at Western Michigan. Between 2012 and 2016, he played for the team, cementing his role as a pivotal member. His substantial contribution to the team was evident as he set a new school record with a whopping 52 career starts. This achievement underscored his consistent performance, highlighting his determination to excel on the field.

As a testament to his excellent performance, Moton received an invitation to the prestigious Senior Bowl. He played his signature offensive tackle position for the North, which unfortunately lost the game with a score of 15-16 to South. Seeking to further showcase his skills, Moton participated in the NFL Combine and successfully completed all of the combine and positional drills. His performance drew massive attention from NFL scouts, eventually leading a dozen of them to Western Michigan’s Pro Day. At the event, he performed positional drills alongside 13 other prospects.

Before the 2017 NFL Draft, several NFL draft experts and analysts iterated their projections, suggesting that Moton would likely be a second or third-round pick. Consequently, he ranked as the fourth-best offensive tackle of the draft according to NFL analyst Mike Mayock and was the fifth-best as per Sports Illustrated, NFLDraftScout.com, and ESPN.

The Carolina Panthers seized the opportunity showcasing their belief in Moton’s abilities. They selected him in the second round (64th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. The pick used to acquire Moton had been procured in a trade with the New England Patriots, which involved sending Kony Ealy to the Patriots. Just a few days after the draft, on May 4, 2017, the Panthers sealed a four-year contract deal with Moton. The agreement was valued at $4.15 million, with $2.28 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.16 million.

As a testament to his immense abilities, Moton earned the role as the Panthers’ starting right tackle in 2018. He not only secured the position but effectively maintained it for three seasons, during which he exhibited consistent form and contributed significantly to the team’s performance. In March 2021, when his contract was about to end, and he was set to become an unrestricted free agent, the Panthers made the calculated move of placing a franchise tag on him. Moton welcomed the mark of trust from his team and signed a one-year contract two days later. Further acknowledging his valuable contributions to the team, the Panthers offered Moton a four-year, $71.25 million contract extension in July 2021, replete with $43 million in guarantees.