Panthers’ Haason Reddick named a top-10 free-agent signing of 2021

There was a bit of initial confusion regarding last spring’s agreement between the Carolina Panthers and Haason Reddick. How could they have gotten a former first-round pick coming off a 12.5-sack campaign for just $6 million?

Maybe they just kind of got lucky.

Between his ties to head coach Matt Rhule, his comfortability with defensive coordinator Phil Snow and a quest to “prove it” on that one-year deal—Reddick might’ve seen green in Carolina, even if it wasn’t for long. But now, after a second straight standout season, the soon-to-be sixth-year pass rusher is set for a more lucrative and secure pact.

Will it be elsewhere? Perhaps. But will it be as team-friendly as it was for Carolina in 2021? Probably not.

And that’s, in part, why NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks named Reddick as the ninth-best free-agent signing from last offseason.

“Reddick’s reunion with his old Temple coaches (Matt Rhule and Phil Snow) showed the football world how to best utilize his talents as an edge defender,” Brooks writes. “The former No. 13 overall pick notched 11.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits and a pair of forced fumbles reprising his role as a speed rusher for his college defensive coordinator. With a résumé that features 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons, the 27-year-old should be a hot commodity when the free-agent market opens in a few weeks.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Reddick is projected to earn himself a three-year contract worth around $35 million. That, obviously, is a much heavier investment—especially for a regime who can’t afford many more mistakes in the upcoming months.

So, yeah, the Panthers already lucked out once on Reddick. But can they do it again?