(SNH) — During his Carolina Panthers introductory Zoom call with members of the media, Robert Hunt flashed a grin and wagged his finger at the camera. The NFL’s new $100 million offensive lineman had a message he wanted to deliver.

“I’ve been waiting on this conversation, so I need all you guys to get your pens out and if you know somebody in Charlotte, tell them I want a (Tesla Cybertruck),” Hunt said. “I’ve been wanting this thing for multiple years. I told myself, once I got ‘THAT’ deal, no matter where I am in life, that would be my treat to myself.”

Hunt appears to be a in a good place in life.

The NFL’s second highest-paid guard in terms of value, Hunt was pursued, along with new teammate Damien Lewis, by new general manager Dan Morgan to help reshape the interior of Panthers’ struggling offensive line.

Help was needed.

Robert Hunt rated NFL’s No. 8 guard

The Panthers are coming off an NFL-worst 2-15 campaign, lowlighted by constant pressure faced by rookie quarterback Bryce Young. The 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick endured 62 sacks in 16 starts, losing a league-high 477 yards. The Panthers’ OL compiled a QB pressure rate of 41.1 percent, fourth worst in the league.

After accepting the position Jan. 22, Morgan identified Hunt as a foundation for the franchise rebuild. On March 11, the first day of free agency, the Panthers signed Hunt to a five-year, $100 million contract.

Along with the additional investment in Lewis and moving Austin Corbett to center, Morgan and first-year coach Dave Canales remain confident Young will experience better protection up the middle in 2024. With extra time, the Panthers anticipate Young’s NFL-low 73.7 passer rating when pressured will improve – dramatically.

At 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, Hunt yielded just one sack and three QB pressures as a member of the Miami Dolphins last season. Despite missing six games with a hamstring injury, Hunt graded out as the NFL’s eighth-best guard, earning a 76.4 efficiency rating, according to Pro Football Focus.

While the mega-deal price was right, Hunt said March 20 he signed with the Panthers to help establish a foundation for the new-look franchise. He said he was “excited” to hear Lewis joined the fold with a four-year, $53 million contract. The two deals rank among the top eight for guards.

“A lot of games can be dictated up front," Hunt said. “I kind of liked the situation. I wanted to be part of something that is trying to go in the right direction.” 

Hunt yearns to land Tesla Cybertruck

As a senior at 1A Burkeville (Texas) High School, Hunt was a lightly recruited prospect who eventually accepted a scholarship from Louisiana-Lafayette, a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program.

Competing in the Sun Belt Conference, Hunt evolved into an NFL prospect and was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round in 2020. Through his opening four seasons, Hunt said he remained relatively conservative with how he splurged on himself.

Not anymore.

Flanked by a contract that guarantees him $63 million, including $44 million over the next two seasons, Hunt doesn’t want to remain low-key. He wants to stand out in the futuristic Cybertruck, which listed a base price of $81,895.

“It’s really hard to get,” Hunt said. “So, if you know anybody, put it out in the open.”

Hunt’s urgency may have heightened Monday when Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders announced he utilized name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation to purchase a Tesla Cyberbeast, a premier version that was listed at $99,990.

“This is the first Cybertruck they dropped … they had delivered in Colorado,” Sanders said during an X (Twitter) post. “The difference is ... this is the best of the best one, the Cyberbeast.   

“Legendary.”

The Panthers needed help protecting Young, so they splurged on Hunt and fueled an offseason trend of exploding deals for interior linemen. 

Among other offseason top-20 deals for guards, according to Spotrac: 

  • The Philadelphia Eagles inked Landon Dickerson for four years, $84 million.
  • The Los Angeles Rams signed Jonah Jackson for three years, $17 million.
  • The Rams also obtained Kevin Dotson for three years, $48 million.
  • The New York Giants secured Jon Runyan for three years, $30 million.

Now that Hunt landed his big pay day, along with several of his peers, he remains optimistic in finding help to land his rare prize, a Cybertruck.

“If you know anyone,” he said.

Jeff Hawkins is a writer for Sports News Highlights.

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