5 Carolina Panthers players fighting for bumper new deals in 2021
By Dean Jones
Which Carolina Panthers players could be fighting for bumper new deals during the 2021 season?
An intriguing element to the season that shouldn’t go overlooked for the Carolina Panthers is the number of established players looking to attain new contracts next year.
Their production during the upcoming campaign will go a long way to determining whether players that fall into this category’s respective futures with the franchise will go beyond 2022. So there is plenty of pride and money at stake in the coming months.
One can look at the roster and pick out those who probably won’t be around. Others seem to be a lock for new deals, while there are also individuals that could still go either way for a multitude of different reasons.
Only time will tell as to which way it goes for the Panthers in 2021. Here are five players fighting for lucrative extensions when competitive action gets underway.
Player No. 1
Matt Paradis – Carolina Panthers C
The Panthers will still be paying Matt Paradis north of $9 million in 2022 even if he isn’t on the team following a contract restructure. But whether the center earns himself an extension to stick around beyond this season is still up for debate.
Paradis showed some encouraging improvements last time around after a disastrous first year on the Panthers following his move from the Denver Broncos in 2019 free agency. He’s not been helped by a distinct lack of talent around him, so the Boise State product will be hoping the latest batch of potential partners on the interior has a little more to offer.
Stability on the offensive line is something that’s been sorely lacking in Carolina of late.
Paradis needs to show he is capable of providing the protection needed for a longer stay, which would be a massive weight off the Panthers’ shoulders.