Former Arizona Cardinals LB Haason Reddick has found a new home. First reported by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder is headed to the Carolina Panthers on a one-year, $8 million deal with $6 million guaranteed.
Haason Reddick gets $8 million max with $6 million guaranteed to head to the #Panthers and rejoin his college coach at Temple Matt Rhule
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 17, 2021
It was a career year for Haason Reddick with 12.5 sacks. He cashes in and Carolina makes a splash in free agency. https://t.co/cvZMHA22Nv
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2021
The 2017 first-rounder (13th overall) out of Temple University built up to a career-year in 2020, when he finished with 63 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss and 16 hits as an elite edge rusher for the Cardinals. The new Panthers LB started the final 11 games for Arizona and compiled his two best games as a professional during the span.
In a Week 7 home win (37-34) against Seattle, he finished with 11 total tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and three QB hits on Russell Wilson. In a Week 13 road victory (26-7) against the New York Giants, he piled up five sacks, six QB hits and three forced fumbles.
Article Continues BelowCarolina hasn't made a ton of moves just yet in this free agency period, but Haason Reddick seems important for the Panthers—who will look to bolster their pressure packages against reigning NFL champion Tom Brady, Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan and New Orleans Saints' potential starters in Jameis Winston and/or Taysom Hill.
[Reddick] mostly played inside linebacker his first few years in the league but really began to thrive when the Cardinals moved him out onto the edge last season. Reddick posted 12.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and 34 pressures. He also cut down his missed tackle rate from over 12% the previous two seasons to six percent in 2020.
Reddick seemed like he was somewhat expendable for the Cardinals after they signed former Houston Texans star J.J. Watt and re-signed Markus Golden. However, it gave the Panthers an opportunity to snag him and bolster their defense.