Robert Hunt, right guard for the Carolina Panthers, has been selected for the Pro Bowl, replacing Philadelphia Eagles' Landon Dickerson, who is preparing for the Super Bowl. This marks Hunt's first Pro Bowl selection after five seasons in the NFL, split between the Miami Dolphins and the Panthers. His role has been crucial in improving Carolina's offensive line, which significantly reduced the sack count on rookie quarterback Bryce Young from 62 to just 29 this season.

While Young's performance has improved, much of the credit goes to the offensive line's stronger pass protection and run-blocking skills, with Hunt leading the charge. He acknowledged the often-overlooked contributions of offensive linemen, expressing support for the idea of an Offensive Lineman of the Year award proposed by Dion Dawkins. Despite a dip in his Pro Football Focus grade, Hunt remains a pivotal player on the Panthers' line, showcasing his value with a better run-blocking score compared to his pass blocking.

Robert Hunt, the Carolina Panthers' standout right guard, has been named to the 2025 Pro Bowl, filling in for Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson, who is preparing for the Super Bowl. This marks Hunt's first Pro Bowl selection after establishing himself as a top performer since entering the NFL as a second-round draft pick in 2020.

In four seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Panthers, Hunt played 61 games and made 55 starts. His five-year, $100 million contract with Carolina ranks him as one of the highest-paid guards in the league. While some might question the investment in a guard, Hunt's impact has been significant, particularly in run-blocking and pass protection, enhancing the Panthers' offensive capabilities and aiding quarterback Bryce Young's development.

Hunt's performance has been pivotal in creating opportunities for running back Chuba Hubbard, who recorded nearly 1,200 rushing yards this season. With additional support in the receiving corps, the Panthers are poised to improve their offensive ranking next year.

The Miami Dolphins are poised to receive three compensatory draft picks in 2025, with predictions indicating one will come in the third round. However, compensatory pick expert Nick Korte notes that the Dolphins are unlikely to secure a third-round pick for the loss of Christian Wilkins, instead receiving a fourth-round selection. They will likely obtain a third-round pick for the loss of Robert Hunt to the Carolina Panthers and a seventh-round pick for safety DeShon Elliott's move to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Dolphins' other free agent losses, including Andrew Van Ginkel and Brandon Jones, were offset by their own free agent acquisitions.

The compensatory draft pick formula, outlined in the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, is complex, considering factors like Average Yearly Compensation (AYC), playing time, and postseason accolades for qualifying players. Teams that lose more compensated free agents than they gain are awarded compensatory picks, which may lead to various rounds based on the players' financial and performance metrics. The Dolphins last received compensatory picks back in 2020, trading them shortly after. The Dolphins are expected to finalize the details of their 2025 picks following the NFL's announcement, which typically occurs in March.

The Miami Dolphins faced challenges this past season, particularly with the free agency losses they incurred. NFL analyst Bucky Brooks highlighted this in his compilation of the top ten free agent pickups of 2024, which notably excluded any Dolphins players. Instead, two players the Dolphins lost, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and guard Robert Hunt, made the list, showcasing the impact of their departures.

Van Ginkel, now with the Minnesota Vikings, was ranked fifth, earning Pro Bowl honors and demonstrating impressive performance as a pass-rush specialist, contributing 11.5 sacks and two interceptions in his first year with Minnesota. Brooks noted that Van Ginkel’s versatility significantly enhanced the Vikings’ defensive schemes under coach Brian Flores, leading to a more dynamic defense.

Meanwhile, Hunt, despite securing a lucrative contract with the Carolina Panthers, landed at tenth on the list, underscoring the Dolphins' struggles to replace him adequately at the guard position. The Dolphins’ inability to make offers to either player before their exits has left fans lamenting the lost potential.

The Dolphins also lost compensatory free agents, which could impact their draft strategy for 2025. With the losses of Hunt and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, the Dolphins are anticipated to gain multiple compensatory picks in the upcoming draft.

The Miami Dolphins may not receive compensatory picks if they lose defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to a head coaching job. However, they could secure picks if the Tennessee Titans hire Reggie McKenzie, their senior personnel executive, as general manager. McKenzie has worked with the Dolphins since 2019 and has local ties to Tennessee, where he was born and played college football.

If McKenzie is hired, the Dolphins would earn two third-round compensatory picks in 2025 and 2026. Weaver is being considered for head coach positions with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, but his departure won't grant compensatory picks since he hasn't been on staff for two years.

Additionally, the Dolphins are projected to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick for losing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, which has dropped from a third-round projection due to a lack of postseason accolades. They currently stand to gain compensatory picks in the third, fourth, and seventh rounds to complement their seven regular picks.