Panthers’ Roster Down To 77
The Panthers made a series of moves on Friday to bring their roster to 77 players, still 24 above the 53-man limit (courtesy of Bryan Strickland of the team’s website):
Waived:
- C Brian Folkerts
- CB Devonte Johnson
- DT Gabriel Mass
- DE Arthur Miley
- DE Efe Obada
- TE Bryce Williams
- DT Connor Wujciak
- CB Zack Sanchez (waived/injured)
Released outright (vested veterans who are not subject to waivers):
Placed on IR:
- OT Dan France
- WR Fred Ross
- TE Scott Simonson
- CB Teddy Williams
- G David Yankey
Panthers Add Bonuses To Greg Olsen’s Deal
Greg Olsen still doesn’t have that new deal he was looking for, but he has been given some extra motivation with two years to go on his current pact. The Panthers have added $2MM in incentives to his contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) has learned. The bonuses will be tied to catches, receiving yards, average yards per catch, and other honors, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) adds. Olsen now has the ability to earn $8.75MM in total this year.
Olsen was pushing the Panthers for a revamped deal earlier this offseason and it was even intimated that he could hold out from training camp. However, he backed down from those demands after the team fired GM Dave Gettleman. Citing a desire to keep the team distraction-free, he said that he would play out the remainder of his contract under interim GM Marty Hurney.
“I haven’t talked to Marty about it or anybody about it,” Olsen said. “If something gets done, great. But we’ve got a lot going on now with training camp and preseason and whatnot. So it hasn’t been really something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. But we’ll see over these next couple of weeks what happens.”
The tight end hasn’t missed a game during his six years with the Panthers, and he has averaged 71 catches, 897 yards and five touchdowns per season with the club.
Cardinals Interested In Panthers’ Andy Lee
The Cardinals have interest in punter Andy Lee, whom the Panthers are shopping, according to Mike Jurecki of Arizona 98.7 FM.
Arizona sifted through multiple punters in 2016, as Ryan Quigley, Drew Butler, and Matt Wile all played in at least three games for the club. Wile is the only one still left on the roster, and he’s competing with Richie Leone — who signed a futures deal with the Cardinals in January — for the starting job. As a team, Arizona was putrid on punts last season, as their 14.7 points of lost field position was second only to the Jets, per Football Outsiders.
Lee, 35, only played in nine games for the Panthers in 2016 before going down with a season-ending hamstring injury. In that time, he punted 36 times with a net average of 40.4 yards, which would have ranked 14th among NFL punters had Lee seen enough action to qualify. After reworking his contract earlier this year, Lee is signed for $1MM in 2017 and $1.1MM in 2018.
Carolina gave up a fourth-round selection for Lee at this time last year, but the club is highly unlikely to reap such compensation now that Lee is coming off injury. As Jurecki notes, the Cardinals are projected to earn four compensatory picks in 2018, meaning they could have extra ammunition with which to play.
Panthers Shopping Punter Andy Lee
The Panthers are gauging trade interest in a pair of specialists, punter Andy Lee and kicker Harrison Butker, sources tell Jourdan Rodrigue and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Carolina acquired Lee and a seventh-round pick from the Browns prior to last season in exchange for a fourth-rounder and fellow punter Kasey Redfern. Lee, 35, appeared in nine games for the Panthers before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. That health issue allowed Michael Palardy — now Lee’s primary competition — to punt for Carolina over the season’s final seven contests. Prior to going down, Lee averaged 49.1 yards per punt on 39 attempts.
Lee agreed to a pay reduction earlier this year, per the Observer scribes. Originally scheduled to earn $3.43MM and $4.13MM over the next two seasons, Lee will now bring in just $1MM in 2017 and $1.1MM in 2018. That could make Lee relatively attractive on the trade market, especially for clubs in need of specialist but are strapped for cap space.
Butker, meanwhile, is also part of an open competition, as he’s vying to become the Panthers’ placekicker alongside veteran Graham Gano. A seventh-round pick this spring, Butker has only attempted one field goal this preseason, a 51-yarder that he converted successfully. He’s also made both of his extra point tries. For his part, Gano is three-for-four on preseason field goals, and made only 78.9% of his attempts during the 2017 campaign.
Latest On Potential Greg Olsen Extension
The Panthers gave an extension to one of their most productive, respected veterans – linebacker Thomas Davis – on Tuesday. Tight end Greg Olsen might not get the same treatment, though: While interim general manager Marty Hurney and Olsen’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have discussed a new deal, an agreement isn’t imminent, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.
An extension for Olsen isn’t a must from the team’s point of view, as the prolific pass catcher still has two seasons remaining on the three-year, $22.5MM pact he inked before the 2015 campaign. Further, Olsen hasn’t created any behind-the-scenes issues over extension talks. The 32-year-old would like a new contract, but he announced last month that he’s willing to play out the current deal so as not to serve as a distraction to the Panthers. However, Olsen did indicate on Wednesday that an extension could come this summer.
“I haven’t talked to Marty about it or anybody about it,” Olsen said. “If something gets done, great. But we’ve got a lot going on now with training camp and preseason and whatnot. So it hasn’t been really something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. But we’ll see over these next couple of weeks what happens.”
Olsen, whom Hurney acquired in a 2011 trade with the Bears during his first stint as Carolina’s GM, has become one of the top players in the Panthers’ relatively short history. The ex-Miami Hurricane hasn’t missed a game during his six years with the Panthers, and he has averaged 71 catches, 897 yards and five touchdowns per season with the club. He’s coming off his third straight 1,000-yard season, making him the first tight end in league history to accomplish that feat. It’s easy to make a case that Olsen deserves a new deal, then, especially considering he’s only seventh among TEs in yearly value on his current accord. But there’s apparently no rush on either side to make it happen.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/17
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived from injured reserve: RB/WR B.J. Daniels
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from injured reserve: S Dean Marlowe
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Dejaun Butler, CB John Green, TE M.J. McFarland, WR Corey Washington
- Waived: OL Ruben Carter, WR Javontee Herndon, LB Lucas Wacha
- Waived/injured: TE Connor Hamlett
Detroit Lions
- Placed on injured reserve: DE Kerry Hyder, RB Mike James
- Waived: G Matt Rotheram
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Ryan Spadola
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: DL Shaneil Jenkins
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Justice Liggins
- Waived/injured: RB Dalton Crossan
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed LB Kyle Coleman
- Waived/injured: LB Mike Moore
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T Sean Hickey, WR Rashad Lawrence
- Waived: T Kwayde Miller
- Waived/injured: WR Francis Owusu
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Jordan Westerkamp
Panthers, Thomas Davis Agree To Extension
The Panthers and Thomas Davis have agreed to an extension. It will be a one-year, $6.75MM add-on for 2018, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The new pact also gives him an additional $2MM guaranteed for the coming year plus $1MM guaranteed in 2018.
[RELATED: Panthers Want To Extend OL Andrew Norwell]
Davis, 34, started in all 16 games last season and led all Panthers defenders in snaps. He proved that he has plenty of good football left as he tallied 106 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.
Many believed that Davis would get the extension he was seeking once GM Dave Gettleman was fired and Marty Hurney was brought back in as the GM on an interim basis. Hurney insisted that this time around, he would not allow his emotional attachment to players to dictate his business decisions. Davis and Hurney do have history together, but Hurney believes that this was the right move to make from a football and business perspective.
Davis is coming off of his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. Last year, he graded out the 39th best linebacker in the entire NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. If he can continue to play at that level, the extension will prove to be a win for Carolina. If he declines in 2017, the Panthers can escape the deal pretty easily.
Panthers Want To Extend OL Andrew Norwell
Having already agreed to a long-term deal with right guard Trai Turner last month, the Panthers are now aiming to extend left guard Andrew Norwell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, general manager Marty Hurney says the club isn’t in ongoing negotiations with Norwell, tweets Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer.
Norwell, 25, recently indicated to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he’d prefer to remain in Carolina for the long haul, and has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus with that goal in mind. A restricted free agent, Norwell was tendered at the second-round level this offseason, meaning he’ll earn $2.746MM in 2017.
If he reaches unrestricted free agency next spring, Norwell could conceivably collect nearly four times that amount annually, as the guard market has recently exploded. Kevin Zeitler, Turner, Gabe Jackson, and Joel Bitonio have all signed long-term pacts with an annual value north of $10MM in the past six months, meaning Norwell will have a clear threshold in mind.
Turner, for his part, received $45MM on a four-year deal that includes $15.797MM in fully guaranteed money. It’s unclear if Norwell will be able to surpass either of those barriers: while he’s been a more consistent player as of late (No. 11 guard in 2016 versus Turner’s No. 39 ranking, per Pro Football Focus), he’s also nearly two years older than his interior line counterpart.
If the Panthers can’t strike an agreement with Norwell, the franchise tag will not be an option in 2018. Because the offensive linemen tender amount includes tackles, it’s projected cost (in excess of $15MM) isn’t palatable for a guard.
Andrew Norwell Wants Long-Term Deal Before End Of Season
- Panthers guard Andrew Norwell is playing under a one-year RFA tender worth $2.75MM this year, but he hopes to get a long-term deal before the end of the season, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Norwell graded out as the league’s No. 11 guard in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, and has started 29 games over the past two seasons, firmly entrenching himself at left guard opposite Trai Turner. Turner, of course, recently received a lucrative extension from Carolina, and Norwell wants in on the action. He has even hired Turner’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to help him get paid.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Ryan Tannehill‘s season is officially over. The Dolphins placed the quarterback on IR and signed linebacker Junior Sylvestre. Tannehill, who will have knee surgery next week, is expected to be ready for the 2018 season. Sylvestre spent time with the Ryan Grigson-era Colts for two years but was cut after Indianapolis’ 2016 training camp. He signed with the Bills earlier this year but was cut after a month.
- The Panthers signed defensive lineman Connor Wujciak, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Wujciak was an Eagles UDFA signing on in 2016, but an injury wiped out his would-be rookie season. The Chiefs worked out Wujciak last week. Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler will miss some time, Ron Rivera revealed Friday — via David Newton of ESPN.com — opening the door for an extra defensive line opportunity. Rivera said Butler’s target date for a return is Week 1. The Panthers waived defensive tackle Drew Iddings with an injury designation to open a roster spot, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports (on Twitter).
- Carolina also brought back offensive lineman Brian Folkerts, Person reports. The Panthers made room by cutting offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson, who had spent time with them since last season (Twitter links). A three-year backup blocker who played in 16 games for the 2014 Panthers, Folkerts last played for the 2015 Rams. Los Angeles cut him when paring its roster down to 75 players last summer.
- Cornerback Jumal Rolle signed with the Bills and will replace Charles James, whom the team released, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW reports (on Twitter). Both players have at least two years’ experience and both previously played for the Texans. The 27-year-old Rolle was a Houston UDFA in 2014 and has played in 18 games. Rolle also intercepted three passes as a rookie before becoming mostly a special teams player in the time since. James played in 21 games with Houston between the 2015-16 seasons; Buffalo claimed him on waivers in May.
- The Broncos relocated defensive lineman Billy Winn to IR after his ACL tear diagnosis emerged Friday. They signed linebacker Nelson Adams, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
- Linebacker Reshard Cliett negotiated an injury settlement with the Chiefs, becoming a free agent after being removed from Kansas City’s IR list, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter).
- The Giants waived linebacker Jimmy Herman, whom they signed Friday. James Kratch of NJ.com tweets Herman was given a “left squad” designation.
- The Saints and linebacker Sae Tautu agreed on an injury settlement to trigger Tautu’s release from New Orleans’ IR, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com tweets.
- Rookie wide receiver Keevan Lucas signed a three-year contract with the Eagles, the team announced. Philadelphia waived linebacker Steven Daniels to make room. A Tulsa product, Lucas declared early but was not signed by a team after the draft.
- Washington signed wide receiver Jamari Staples and waived/injured left tackle Kevin Bowen, per John Keim of ESPN.com. The Chiefs waived Staples in June after initially signing him in May. The Redskins also placed Trent Murphy on IR. Murphy tore his ACL in Washington’s preseason opener Thursday night.