Carolina Panthers: Torrey Smith salary reduction benefits
Carolina Panthers wide receiver, Torrey Smith, agrees to reduce his salary.
The NFL is a business and while some players are looking out for their own best interest and personal successes, every now and then players come along who put the team over themselves. It often takes both types of individuals in order to win championships and the Carolina Panthers have one of the latter in wide receiver Torrey Smith.
Undoubtedly there are others on the Panthers roster who are willing to put team above self, but when it comes to money, those feelings get truly tested. Navigating a difficult cap situation, general manager Marty Hurney has worked to build the best roster possible and still being in the market for a few more potential additions, requires money.
Enter Smith, who has agreed to a $2 million salary reduction in order to free up the same amount of money in cap space for the Panthers. In addition, Carolina is set to receive another $7.25 million over the weekend for their release of injured offensive tackle Matt Kalil.
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The money comes at a favorable time as former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy, is a free agent after his team was faced with salary cap issues of their own. Their best defensive player, joining the Panthers would boost the interior of their defensive line while allowing McCoy two annual opportunities to remind Tampa Bay of their mistake.
If not used on McCoy, who visited Carolina this week, the additional funds may be used to sign another safety or on current players nearing the end of their current deals. Eric Berry remains available, in addition to Tre Boston – both of whom would add competition opposite Eric Reid on the back end of the Panthers defense.
Of those currently on the roster – Mario Addison, Shaq Thompson and James Bradberry all have deals expiring after this season. If Hurney doesn’t make a move to add another player, the chances of each returning would increase.
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No matter what happens, the team should be thankful Smith was willing to put them in a position to now have some options.