5 difficult questions facing the Carolina Panthers in 2022 free agency
By Dean Jones
How much can the Carolina Panthers afford to pay Haason Reddick?
There’s no doubt Haason Reddick has earned himself a lucrative payday this offseason. The outside linebacker joined the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal and immediately made his presence felt, leading the team in 11 sacks and integrating himself superbly within the locker room.
Reddick now has 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Consistent pass-rushers are hard to find in today’s NFL and the Panthers must do all they can to keep the Temple product around long-term.
Allowing him to hit the free-agent market – where there would be a ton of interest – is not really an option. But just how much the Panthers can afford to pay Reddick with other obvious needs is another matter.
There are always ways to work around the salary cap. Even if the New Orleans Saints are proof that it always comes back to bite you in the end.
If all offers fail with Reddick leading up to 2022 free agency, then the Panthers have the option of slapping him with the franchise tag. Although not ideal for the player, it does give Carolina some extra time to work something out and ensure the edge defender will be around for one more season, at the very least.
Reddick enjoyed his time in Carolina and is eager to come back. However, things don’t always work out as people hope and this will be something to monitor closely.