NFC South Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Greg Olsen

Falcons

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Falcons DT Grady Jarrett‘s four-year, $68 million extension includes an $18 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed at signing, with another $4.5 million in injury guarantees becoming fully guaranteed after one season. The deal breaks out as follows: 

• 2019 – $6.5 million base salary fully guaranteed.
• 2020 – $10.5 million base salary and a $3 million option bonus, both fully guaranteed.
• 2021 – $13.5 million base salary, $4.5 million guaranteed for injury and fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2020 league year.
• 2022 – $16.5 million base salary. 

Panthers

The Panthers signed RB Elijah Holyfield as an undrafted free agent after the son of legendary boxer Evander Holyfield fell out of the draft due to a sluggish 4.78 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. However, Panthers HC Ron Rivera says that number is deceiving. 

“You really see the explosiveness between the tackles; you see his ability to run between the hashes,” Rivera said via ESPN’s David Newton. “I know he didn’t run a good 40 time, but when you put the tape on … it was pretty impressive. I don’t think [the 40 time] really speaks to who he is as a football player. It’s one of those things, it doesn’t add up.” 

• According to the Athletic’s Joseph Person and Jourdan Rodrigue, the Panthers options at left guard include either shifting OTs Taylor Moton or Daryl Williams inside, or rolling with 2018 starter Greg Van Roten. 
• Both Moton and Williams started at right tackle for the Panthers last season, with Moton playing the majority of the year after Williams was injured in Week 1. 

Greg Olsen

Panthers TE Greg Olsen went from three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to spending big chunks of the past two seasons on injured reserve with a foot injury. He’s back and committed to the Panthers for 2019, but he says he’s not sure of anything beyond that despite a deal that runs through the 2020 season. 

“I’m gonna take this year and see. This year’s obviously big for me,” Olsen said via the Athletic’s Joseph Person. “I’ve just got to stay healthy and show that I can still play at a high level and play every game, like I was for so long. That’s my main goal this year. If I can stay healthy, I’ll be productive. I’m not worried about that. I’ve just got to keep it going. Sometimes it’s out of your hands. The last two years have been out of my control. There’s nothing you can do. So hopefully I’ll have a little better luck this year.”