66 days until NFL football folks! Let’s take a look at 2016 free agent acquisition Gino Gradkowski!
Bio
Height: 6’ 3”
Weight: 300 lbs
Age: 28
Experience: 6 years
College: Delaware
Career
Gradkowski is a former 4th round pick for the Baltimore Ravens, and played special teams for the 2012 Super Bowl squad. The following season, he started all 16 games in lieu of Matt Birk’s retirement. He then stayed as a reserve guy in 2014, before Baltimore packaged him into a trade in 2015 to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos waived him prior to the start of the season, and Atlanta claimed him. He ended up starting one game for them that year. Carolina went and signed Gradkowski to a 3 year, $3.15 million dollar deal in free agency. Gradkowski served as key depth for the Panthers as a center or guard. Ryan Kalil went down, so Gradkowski ended up starting three games for Carolina in 2016. Unfortunately, he too suffered an injury and Carolina ended up pushing him to IR.
Going into the 2017 season, Gradkowski is invaluable depth for the Panthers at center. It is one of few positions on the offensive line we can call “deep” for the Panthers, and in the games he played the line was business as usual. Ryan Kalil is getting older, meaning injuries are definitely more likely. However, when Gradkowski went down the Panthers got a true surprise out of Tyler Larsen, who also filled in well for Kalil. Gradkowski’s contract structure would make it seem like he’s safe for this season, but next year the Panthers could cut bait if need be. But at the moment, Carolina’s move to secure some security in case Kalil goes down seems to have worked out.
What do you think, Panthers fans?