Despite having fielded their best offensive front in quite some time, the Carolina Panthers have been needing an extra hog molly or two. So, they got one.
As announced on Friday night, the team has agreed to terms with offensive lineman Justin McCray. The versatile 30-year-old has recorded at least 137 snaps from each of the five positions on the front.
McCray comes over carrying nine years’ worth of professional experience—with seven of them coming in the NFL. He first broke into the league in 2014 as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans.
Since then, he’s up picked up stops with seven teams—including two in the American Football League (AFL). McCray has also crossed paths with current Panthers offensive line coach James Campen in Green Bay, Cleveland and—most recently—Houston.
With starting guards Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen healing from offseason surgeries, McCray could serve as an insurance policy on the interior. He may be even more valuable following the release of Pat Elflein and potential loss of Cameron Erving in free agency.