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Teddy Bridgewater will have company on the Carolina Panthers, with former New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple agreeing to terms on a contract with the NFC South rival, the Panthers announced Thursday. The Saints will not receive a compensatory draft pick for Apple’s departure following the NFL’s April 27 cutoff date.
Apple initially agreed to terms on a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders early in free agency, which would have netted the Saints a sixth-round compensatory pick in 2021. But those talks fell apart and Apple reentered the market without much reported interest for the last few months.
The contract terms are unknown just yet, though Apple’s arrangement with the Raiders would have seen him earn $6 million on a one-year prove-it deal. This late in the game, it’s tough to see the Panthers ponying up that sort of cash.
Apple has faced the Panthers four times in his career, suiting up for the Saints in three of those meetings after they acquired him in a 2018 midseason trade. He notched one of his three career interceptions in a 2018 road win over the Panthers that ultimately helped the Saints clinch an NFC South title.
Whether he’ll even start for the Panthers in 2020 remains to be seen. He’ll compete with third-year pro Donte Jackson as well as Ross Cockrell, who started 11 games last season. But Saints fans should expect to see Apple at some point in their two annual divisional games with the Panthers.
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