Was Haason Reddick always destined to join the Carolina Panthers?

Can reuniting with Matt Rhule mean big things for edge rusher Haason Reddick with the Carolina Panthers in 2021?

Before signing with the Carolina Panthers, Haason Reddick had been linked to the team since the arrival of Matt Rhule. But was it just coincidental that their needs matched his talent or did he follow a trend of returning to a familiar and loyal face?

David Tepper and the Panthers hired Baylor and ex-Temple head coach Matt Rhule to a massive seven-year, $60 million deal once the 2019 campaign came to a conclusion.

After building two programs into quality college teams as well as bowl contenders in a span of seven years, Rhule was given the keys to an NFL franchise, and it didn’t take long for former student-athletes to follow him to Carolina.

Robby Anderson, P.J. Walker, Keith Kirkwood, Colin Thompson, Sam Franklin, Bravvion Roy, Clay Johnston, and Sam Tecklenburg all became Panthers due to the influence of their beloved college coach.

But one player who achieved possibly the most success under Rhule was still under contract with another team.

After three subpar seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Reddick was thought to be a bust as an NFL player.

Used in a different position than what earned him success and the No. 13 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Reddick struggled to be the difference-maker we saw often at Temple.

Reddick found life so difficult, the Cardinals declined his fifth-year option and flirted with the possibility of trading the then 25-year old during the 2020 draft. And with first-year head coach  Rhule fresh in Carolina, the framework for a reunion was possibly attainable.

Multiple sources reported interest in a trade, yet nothing materialized, but then something happened.

Reddick blew up.

In his fourth season of playing in every regular-season game for the Cardinals, Reddick amassed 63 combined tackles, 16 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and four passes defended in his best professional season.

All talks of a trade stopped as a breakout game against the New York Giants saw Reddick break the team record in sacks in a game previously held by defensive end Curtis Greer, that came during a 1983 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Arizona reportedly began trying to find ways of keeping Reddick after his December beat down of Daniel Jones and his 2020 season output. But after declining the fifth-year option there was nothing the team could do but hope.

Haason Reddick could make a huge impact on the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

Meanwhile, in Carolina, the Panthers were a team with potential, but in obvious need of more talent across the roster.

Defensive end Brian Burns continued his ascension to stardom with nine sacks as newly drafted Yetur Gross-Matos showed promise with 2.5 quarterback takedowns, but battled injuries throughout his rookie season.

Efe Obada (5.5 sacks) and Marquis Haynes (4 sacks) both helped to attack opposing signal-callers, but the team struggled due to injury, inexperience, and just a lack of talent getting after the ball.

To add salt to the wound, the injury to Kawann Short and poor play from Tahir Whitehead and Stephen Weatherly all highlighted the need for a defensive overhaul.

Especially to the front seven.

At the first opportunity, both sides quickly came to an agreement. The player who celebrated being drafted by the Cardinals with his college head coach standing less than three feet away would become a Panther in what was highly publicized as a steal for Rhule and his soon-to-be rebuilt defense.

Along with Denzel Perryman, Morgan Fox, and DaQuan Jones, the Panthers quickly added talent to the core of Shaq Thompson, Burns, Derrick Brown, and Gross-Matos. Effectively building a solid defensive front with a ton of potential.

For the misused and highly coveted Reddick, returning to a coaching staff that utilized him to the best of his abilities could prove to be a blessing and continued success.

If he can continue to improve and build on the success of last year’s campaign, then not only will Reddick be able to shed the stigma of a one-year wonder, but his potential contribution should build upon the foundations of last year’s lessons and success.

Players seem to gravitate towards and stay loyal to Rhule.

Much could be said about that, but if Rhule can bring to Carolina the type of player that Reddick has shown he could be last year as well as in college, then the Panthers may have just found its next great defensive end duo.

Regardless, the spotlight is on Reddick to perform in a new environment with a familiar face, and I cannot wait to watch how he responds in this upgraded defense.