Sir Purr
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- Mar 16, 2019
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CHARLOTTE – The Panthers and Chargers have tentatively agreed to swap Pro Bowl offensive linemen, according to ESPN NFL Insiders Adam Schefter and Josina Anderson.
Schefter is reporting that Carolina would acquire veteran left tackle Russell Okung from Los Angeles in exchange for guard Trai Turner.
The teams cannot comment on or confirm the reported trade until the new league year begins March 18.
Okung, who has one year remaining on his contract, spent the last three seasons with the Chargers. The 31-year-old played in six games last year after opening the season on the reserve/non-football illness list after suffering a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots. He gave up zero sacks and five pressures in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus.
Okung spent one season with the Broncos in 2016 following a six-year run with the Seahawks, who selected him sixth overall out of Oklahoma State. A two-time Pro Bowler, Okung has started every game he's ever played (124) and he helped Seattle win Super Bowl XLVIII in 2013. He is second among active offensive tackles with 14 career postseason starts.
The Panthers drafted Turner, 26, in the third round of the 2014 draft out of LSU. He quickly established himself as a starter and has been selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls. According to PFF, in 2019, Turner allowed six sacks in 13 games played and ranked 30th overall among guards who played at least 50 percent of the snaps.
If the trade becomes official, Okung would join Taylor Moton and Greg Little at tackle. It would also reunite Okung with former Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer, who worked with Okung for the past three seasons.