Panthers free agency tracker: Carolina signs return specialist Andre Roberts
The Panthers are signing return specialist Andre Roberts to a one-year deal, the team reported on Monday.
Roberts, 34, was an All-Pro in three of the last four years, and led the league in kickoff return yards last year. He had a 101-yard touchdown return on a kickoff for the Chargers last season and should prove himself as an instant special teams contributor.
He has 8,578 combined return yards (both kickoff and punt return), which is the most of any player in the league since 2010.
The Panthers left the draft without a return specialist despite it being a position Carolina needed to improve. Last year, the Panthers ranked 17th in average punt return yards and did not make enough impact plays to impact games. Roberts has career averages of 26.0 yards per kickoff return, and 8.7 yards per punt return.
Here is an updated list of the Panthers’ other free agent moves.
Free agents joining the Panthers
▪ WR / Return specialist Andre Roberts
The Panthers signed Roberts on Monday. He’ll join a wide receiver room that includes fellow free-agent Rashard Higgins and five undrafted free agents.
▪ CB Chris Westry
The Panthers agreed to a one-year deal with former Vikings and Cowboys cornerback Chris Westry on April 4. Westry, 24, adds depth to the defensive back room.
The 6-foot-4, 199-pound cornerback played in six games and started in two last year for the Ravens. He finished with 17 tackles.
▪ LB Cory Littleton
The Panthers agreed to a one-year deal with former Raider linebacker Cory Littleton. The deal is reportedly for $2.6 million and $2 million guaranteed. Littleton started in 13 of the Raiders’ 17 games in 2021. He finished with 98 tackles and half a sack. The Raiders released him prior to free agency.
His addition gives the Panthers options at linebacker, which was among their thinnest positions last season. Littleton was teammates with linebacker Shaq Thompson in college at Washington.
▪ C/G Bradley Bozeman
The Panthers announced that they have agreed to terms with center/guard Bradley Bozeman on a one-year deal. He started in 48 games the past three years at left guard and center for the Ravens.
He will be competition for Pat Elflein at center, and his versatility provides the Panthers flexibility.
▪ DT Matt Ioannidis
The Panthers agreed to terms with former Washington Commanders defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis, a source said Friday.
Ioannidis played college football under coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow at Temple. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound defensive tackle will likely start in 2021 after the departure of veteran DaQuan Jones.
He had 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks last season. His best season was in 2019 when he had 8.5 sacks.
▪ P Johnny Hekker
The Panthers agreed to terms Friday with former Rams punter Johnny Hekker, a source confirmed. Hekker, 32, was a four-time first team All-Pro and two-time second team All Pro. The Rams released him after 10 seasons Wednesday.
While he’s considered one of the best punters in NFL history, his average took a dip in 2021. He averaged 44.2 yards per punt, a career low.
▪ LB Damien Wilson
The Panthers agreed to terms Thursday with the former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker, a source confirmed.
Wilson, 28, is entering his eighth season in the pros. He also won a Super Bowl with Kansas City and played for the Cowboys. The 6-foot, 260-pound inside linebacker had his best season in 2021.
He finished with 106 tackles, five for loss, three sack, one forced fumble, one interception in 17 games last season.
▪ WR Rashard Higgins
The Panthers have agreed to a one-year deal with former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Rashard Higgins, a league source said Wednesday. The Panthers later announced the deal.
Higgins, 27, spent his first six seasons with the Browns, where he has caught 137 passes for 1,890 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound receiver was added for depth. He will have a chance to compete for the No. 3 or No. 4 wide receiver spot.
His best season was in in 2020 when he had 37 receptions for 599 yards and four touchdowns.
▪ S Xavier Woods
The Panthers agreed to terms with safety Xavier Woods, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a three-year deal worth $15.75 million. Woods, 26, played last season with the Vikings where he had a career-high 108 tackles. He also had 10 pass breakups, and three interceptions.
Woods spent his first four seasons with the Cowboys before signing a one-year deal with the Vikings last offseason. Woods played every defensive snap for Minnesota. The Panthers were expected to target a veteran safety. Woods will have an opportunity to start opposite Jeremy Chinn.
▪ OG Austin Corbett
The Panthers reached an agreement with offensive guard Austin Corbett, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement. His deal is reportedly three years, $29.5 million.
Corbett, 26, started every game for the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in 2021. He allowed only three sacks in 17 games and committed only two penalties.
Before the Rams, he spent two seasons with the Browns.
▪ RB D’Onta Foreman
The Panthers reached an agreement with backup running back D’Onta Foreman Tuesday evening, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement.
The deal is for one year and $2 million, the source said.
Foreman, 25, is a big back, at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds. He played in nine games for the Texans and started in three. He rushed for 566 yards, three touchdowns and averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
Players leaving the Panthers for other teams
▪ Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore has reached an agreement with the Indianopolis Colts, according to multiple reports. His contract was reportedly for two years, $23 million.
Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler, and the 2019 defensive player of the year, was traded to Carolina midway through the 2021 season. He’s a Rock Hill native. He played in eight games for the Panthers, had two interceptions and made the Pro Bowl roster.
▪ OLB Haason Reddick
Reddick has reached an agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles, he announced on his Twitter. The contract was reportedly for three years, $45 million, and $30 million guaranteed, according to Carolina Blitz.
Reddick initially signed a one-year, $8 million prove-it deal with the Panthers in 2021. He finished with 68 tackles and a team-high 11 sacks in his only season with Carolina.
Reddick played college football at Temple in Philadelphia, which is about 15 minutes from his hometown in Camden, N.J.
The Panthers didn’t feel they had the cap space to re-sign Reddick and address other needs. Reddick’s camp, at one point, requested more than $15 million, per a source.
▪ DT DaQuan Jones
The pipeline from Carolina to Buffalo continues. Jones, who signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in 2021, reportedly reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills. Jones was durable for the Panthers, playing in all 17 games.
He finished with 38 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
▪ RB Ameer Abdullah
Abdullah was a late addition for the Panthers last season, who signed him shortly after the Vikings released him. In 11 games for the Panthers, he rushed for 136 yards, and had 35 receptions for 272 yards and a touchdown.
▪ LB Jermaine Carter
Carter signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal. The fourth-year linebacker spent his entire career with the Panthers. He finished with 88 tackles in 17 games last season.
Free agents re-signed by the Panthers
▪ Juston Burris, one-year deal
Carolina agreed to terms with safety Juston Burris on Thursday, bringing back the safety who has started 20 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons. With two interceptions over that time, he re-joins Jeremy Chinn and newcomer Xavier Woods in the safety room.
▪ Rashaan Melvin, one-year deal
The Panthers reached an agreement Wednesday with Melvin on a one-year contract. Melvin first signed with the Panthers during the 2021 offseason. He played sparingly and filled in whenever there was an injury to a starter.
He played in 10 games, started in two, and allowed a 54% pass completion rate in coverage. His re-signing adds depth to the cornerback room.
▪ CB Donte Jacksoon, three-year deal, $35 million, per reports
Jackson, who tested the free-agent market this offseason, has agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers, reportedly for three years and $35.1 million.
Pairing Jackson, 26, with Jaycee Horn, 22, for years to come makes their cornerback room better. Jackson has grown into one of the team’s leaders. In four seasons, he has 12 interceptions and two forced fumbles and has shown improvement each year.
▪ WR Brandon Zylstra - one-year deal
Zylstra finished the 2021 season with a career high 18 catches for 250 yards and a touchdown. It was the best season of his career. He’s also a valuable special teams player who served as the team’s emergency kicker in Week 15 last season.
The deal makes sense given his value.
▪ DE Marquis Haynes - two-year deal, $5.5 million, per a source.
Haynes was impressive in the preseason, but he didn’t play many snaps in 2021 because he was behind Reddick. Now that Reddick is gone, Haynes has a chance to compete for the starting job. His snap cap will certain go up.
▪ OLB Frankie Luvu - two-year, $9 million, per a source.
Though Luvu only started four games in 2021, he was one of the more impressive players when the Panthers coaching staff put on the tape. He had 43 tackles and eight for a loss. He also had one punt block. Coach Matt Rhule believes Luvu is a starter. He will replace Reddick who left in free agency. Rhule said he could also play middle linebacker.
▪ S Sean Chandler - one year deal.
Chandler had to fill in some when safety Juston Burris got hurt. He started in seven games and had 48 tackles and one forced fumble.
▪ TE Ian Thomas - three-year, $16.95 million, $8 million guaranteed, per a source.
Thomas hasn’t been much of a factor in the passing game in recent years. He had 18 catches for 188 yards. But the Panthers value his blocking ability and think he can be effective in the passing game in new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s offense.
▪ K Zane Gonzalez - two-year, $4.5 million, $2 million guaranteed, per a source.
Before Gonzalez got hurt he was having a Pro Bowl-type year. He made 20 of 22 field goal attempts (90%), which was the highest percentage of his career. Carolina knew it could count on him. Gonzalez was one of their priorities to re-sign.
▪ LS J.J. Jansen - one-year, $1.1 million deal, according to reports.
Jansen is the longest tenured player on the Panthers roster and has always been solid.
▪ LB Julian Stanford - one-year deal, $1.1 million deal.
Key special teams player and backup linebacker.
▪ QB P.J. Walker - one-year, $895,000
Walker will have a chance to compete for the backup role. Rhule trusts him.
▪ FB Giovanni Ricci - one-year, $895,000
Ricci made the move from tight end to full back in the middle of training camp and earned more playing time last season. It was a smart move.
Panthers free agents who haven’t signed yet
▪ P Lachlan Edwards
▪ WR Alex Erickson
▪ RG John Miller
▪ QB Cam Newton
▪ C Matt Paradis
▪ OT Trent Scott
▪ CB A.J. Bouye
▪ DE Morgan Fox
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Panthers free agency tracker: Carolina signs return specialist Andre Roberts."
