Former Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil earned a full time starting position during his second year in the league and went on to anchor the offensive line for over a decade. He earned five Pro Bowl nominations and twice was a first-team All Pro recipient, in addition to helping protect multiple quarterbacks – most notably Cam Newton since the 2011 season.
A second-round draft choice of current general manager Marty Hurney, in the heart of his first stint with the team, Kalil blossomed into a captain and fan favorite. Prior to last year, Kalil announced his intentions to retire after 2018, leaving a vacancy up front in Carolina.