Carolina Panthers bring back defensive tackle Kyle Love
Carolina Panthers reach one-year deal with defensive tackle Kyle Love.
Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney continues to put pieces in place as he reconstructs a roster experiencing a significant amount of turnover. While every NFL team undergoes some amount of roster attrition from year to year, the Panthers aging unit lost a few players leaving big shoes to fill.
Veteran captains Julius Peppers and Ryan Kalil both retired, leaving openings along the defensive and offensive lines in addition to Carolina not re-signing linebacker Thomas Davis. While an edge rusher tends to be the consensus for a first-round draft choice, Hurney continues adding pieces here and there in an effort to prepare the roster before those added via the NFL Draft next week.
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Another free agent acquisition involved Kyle Love returning for the Panthers on a new one-year deal. Love originally landed in Carolina after being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the 2014 season. After time with the New England Patriots, who signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 draft, Love attempted to catch on with the Jaguars and Chiefs but failed to make an impact.
With the Panthers over each of the past five seasons, Love has served as a rotational tackle and played well enough to warrant a return. He’s appeared in 57 games, registering 71 tackles and is a half sack away from reaching double digits.
At 32 years old, Love may not be an influx of youth but he’s a familiar face that is well versed in the Panthers defense despite being on the roster bubble last season. Even though coach Ron Rivera has hinted at transitioning to more 3-4 fronts in 2019, Love fits as a tackle capable of being productive in either scheme.
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A solid signing for what is expected to be a decent price tag, adding someone who can help with depth in the middle of the Panthers defensive line.