CENTER UNCERTAINTY: Will the Carolina Panthers RELY on Luke Fortner or ROOKIE Sam Hecht This Season?

The Carolina Panthers interior offensive line faces major uncertainty as a new starting center must emerge. Can Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis anchor the unit, or will depth concerns derail the team's offensive hopes? Julian Council analyzes key roster battles, examines rookie Sam Hecht’s chances of overtaking favorite Luke Fortner, and questions whether Nick Samac could be a surprise contributor. Insightful breakdowns of the Panthers’ guard depth chart—including Chandler Zavala, Sadiq Charles, and Ja'tyre Carter—raise the stakes for a unit hit hard by injuries and inconsistency. With Austin Corbett and Cade Mays gone, is Carolina’s O-line prepared for the grind of the NFL season? The discussion spotlights PFF grades, contract decisions, and what the Panthers must do to protect Bryce Young and power their ground game in 2026. Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everyday... Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. Square If you’re starting a business, or running one that deserves better tools, Square helps you sell, manage, and grow without slowing down. Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at https://square.com/go/LockedOnNFL. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts... Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/... #NFL #CarolinaPanthers