Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers freed up $3.25 million in cap space by restructuring the contract of LB Thomas Davis earlier this month.
It was reported last week that the Panthers picked up the two options included Davis’ current contract.
According to Person, Carolina also added three voidable years to the deal, which will keep him under team control through the 2018 season. This is, of course, where the saving come in as they can prorate his bonus over the course of the entire deal, which in turn creates more reasonable cap figures.
- Person mentions that Davis’ contract is worth $16.5 million and includes a $5 million signing bonus.
- Davis will have a 2014 cap figure of $3.57 million to go along with a veteran minimum salary of $950,000.
- Person adds that the Panthers are reportedly considering the same approach for DE Charles Johnson and C Ryan Kalil.
Davis, 30, still has two years remaining on his five-year, $36.5 million contract that he signed with the Panthers back in 2011.
Davis managed to come back from three ACL injuries in a matter of two years and still play at a high level for the league’s best defenses. He finished the season with 123 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 3 outside linebacker in a 4-3 system last year.
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