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Saints lose Luke Fortner to Panthers in underrated offseason move

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 27, 2026, 1:55 PM

Last updated Jul 27, 2026

Saints lose Luke Fortner to Panthers in underrated offseason move

Summary

The New Orleans Saints lost center Luke Fortner to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Pro Football Focus named this as one of the offseason's most underrated moves, noting Fortner's strong performance in 2025 after stepping in for Erik McCoy. He played 678 snaps, earning a 72.5 PFF pass-blocking grade and a career-high 65.3 run-blocking grade. The Panthers are looking to improve their offensive line, which ranked 23rd last season, and Fortner will be pivotal in their efforts. He is positioned to take on a starting role, building on his breakout season in New Orleans.

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•Luke Fortner signed with the Carolina Panthers after leaving the Saints.
•Fortner had a strong 2025 season with a 72.5 PFF pass-blocking grade.
•Carolina ranked 23rd overall at center last season.
•The Panthers are aiming to improve their offensive line.
•Fortner's development places him as a key player for the Panthers.

Latest Updates

1:55 PMYahoo Sports — PFF: Saints free agent loss one of offseason's most underrated moves

What they're saying

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PFF highlighted the New Orleans Saints losing Luke Fortner among the offseason's most underrated moves. Do they have a backup plan behind Erik McCoy?
— Yahoo Sports

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Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints NFL Football