CHARLOTTE — After not taking an offensive tackle in the draft, the Panthers are going to keep another former first-rounder around a little bit longer.

Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said Saturday the team would pick up the fifth-year option on left tackle Ikem Ekwonu's contract, keeping him here through the 2026 season.

Ekwonu, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft, has been a reliable and improving part of an offensive line that has become a strength around here.

Still just 24 years old, Ekwonu has started all 49 games he's played in the last three years (missing two last year with an ankle injury). He only allowed one sack last year prior to the injury and went from 11 sacks allowed in 2023 to seven last year. He also remains an exceptional run-blocker (11th of 140 tackles in PFF run-blocking grades last season).

Morgan has said he wants to extend Ekwonu to keep him here for the long term, allowing them to keep another young piece for the long haul.

"I think Ickey showed us he's a dominant run blocker," head coach Dave Canales said earlier this spring. "I think he showed us that he is very reliable in the past in pass protection. I think he'd be the first to tell you, cleaning up some hand placement things, some footwork stuff, those are all goals of his.

"But I think we got our left tackle. I love playing with having Ickey over there and having T-Mo (Taylor Moton) on the right side. I feel pretty good about just playing ball against pretty much anybody."