Carolina Panthers facing potential loss of starting center Cade Mays to Detroit Lions in free agency The Carolina Panthers may be without their starting center for the upcoming season after the Detroit Lions reportedly signed Cade Mays to a three-year, $25 million contract. According to NFL analyst Joe Person of The Athletic, the deal marks a significant move for the Lions, who are looking to bolster their offensive line. Mays, a key player for the Panthers in 2025, started 12 games for the team during the regular season. Mays was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft from the University of Tennessee. He made seven starts over his first 27 professional games through the 2023 season before being released in the summer of 2024. After a brief stint with the New York Giants, Mays returned to Carolina in October 2024. He then solidified his role as the team’s center, starting eight of the final 11 games of the season. Despite losing the offseason competition for the starting center position to veteran Austin Corbett, Mays reclaimed the role by Week 3 of the 2025 season. His performance throughout the year demonstrated his value to the Panthers’ offensive line, but the Lions’ offer appears to have convinced him to pursue a new opportunity. The Panthers’ decision to let Mays go comes amid a broader reshaping of their roster during the 2026 free agency period. The team’s offensive line has been a focus of improvement, and the loss of Mays could force them to address the position sooner than expected. Fans and analysts will now closely monitor how the Panthers plan to replace him, as the offensive line’s stability is critical to the team’s success in the upcoming season.#detroit_lions #cade_mays #carolina_panthers #austin_corbett #university_of_tennessee
