After a deal fell through with the Raiders, cornerback Eli Apple will now keep his talents within the division, signing with the Carolina Panthers. The official details of Apple’s contract are yet to be reported.
Apple initially started off his career with the Giants. The 6-foot, 1-inch former first-round pick was then traded to the Saints where he played just a season and a half before being forced into the free agency market.
Replaced by Janoris Jenkins in the Big Easy, Apple’s coming off a down season in which his flaws in coverage were repeatedly showcased, but the potential for the 24-year-old is still there.
That said, the Panthers defense got much-needed help on the edge.
We've agreed to terms with Eli Apple! pic.twitter.com/u4FmMgfvUJ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) May 28, 2020
After being injured for the last game of the 2019 season and not playing in the team’s playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Apple tested the market.
He came to an agreement with the now Las Vegas Raiders, but just as the NFL is unpredictable so are contracts in which the pen hasn’t officially hit the paper.
Apple’s deal was never signed and he was forced to test the market once again. Now in Carolina, he’ll team up with former teammate Teddy Bridgewater as both will be coming over from New Orleans.
Apple is coming off a 15-game season in which he totaled 58 tackles and a career-low 9.4% missed tackle rate. He should be a consistent presence in an NFL South filled with elite receivers.