5 easy decisions the Carolina Panthers must make in 2022 free agency
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers must keep Haason Reddick
How the Carolina Panthers do this doesn’t really matter. But they have to keep outside linebacker Haason Reddick on the roster after a phenomenal first season with the franchise.
One of the few success stories of Matt Rhule going back to his former college players, Reddick quickly proved that his 2020 campaign with the Arizona Cardinals was no fluke, coming up with big-time displays that eventually ended with 11 sacks on the year.
This puts the Temple product in an incredibly strong position during contract negotiations. The Panthers should do everything in their power to extend Reddick long-term, but there are some other avenues they could pursue to ensure he stays around in some capacity.
If terms cannot be agreed upon, then Carolina can slap Reddick with the franchise tag. This is projected to come at a cost of $17.41 million, according to Over the Cap, but it would give the organization additional time to work on a potential agreement.
Reddick clearly relished his time in Carolina and has indicated a willingness to stick around. However, there appears little doubt he is worthy of a big financial commitment after betting on himself by signing a one-year deal in free agency last time around.
In an ideal world, Reddick and the Panthers can come to a mutual arrangement quickly. But letting him test the market is simply not an option.