CHARLOTTE, NC – In their ongoing search for a middle linebacker to replace perennial Pro Bowl standout Luke Kuechly, the Carolina Panthers agreed on a two-year deal with Denzel Perryman on Wednesday, his agency confirmed.
The former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker (1.5m-11, 24lb) will replace Tahir Whitehead, who signed a one-year contract last off-season after Kuechly retired after just eight NFL seasons.
Whitehead’s inconsistency and inability to play from sidelines to sidelines – as Kuechly did – led to him starting just nine of the 14 games he played. He was deemed expendable after the season.
Perryman, a second round from Miami in 2015, had 349 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in six seasons with the Chargers. He got a two-year extension in 2019, $ 12 million, but chose to explore the market this season.
Known for his hard hit and toughness as a tackler, Perryman is versatile too. One of his career highlights was an interception deep in the middle of the field against Atlanta in 2016.
Perryman, represented by Agency 1 Sports during the negotiations, is the third player the Panthers has signed deals with in free agency. The other two are Dallas ‘former assault gear Cam Erving and Pat Elflein’ s guard of the New York Jets.