‘Tis the season of NFL free agency, and there are quite a few former Ohio State players looking to find a new home this offseason.
One of those scarlet and gray dominoes fell on Monday when several reports linked former Buckeye safety Vonn Bell with the Carolina Panthers. Of course, by now you know that Bell has been a staple in the Bengals’ secondary over the last couple of years.
Out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Bell was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft and spent his first four years in the Big Easy before finding his way to Cincinnati in 2020. He appeared in the Super Bowl opposite the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
Safety Vonn Bell is signing with the Panthers. (via @rapsheet, @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/wWrCzWlHmx
— NFL (@NFL) March 13, 2023
Bell is reportedly signing a three-year deal worth $22.5 million with $13 million guaranteed according to Per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
A three-time captain with the Bengals, it was a bit of a surprise to see the franchise let the veteran go to the Panthers. He started 48 regular-season games and tallied 288 tackles and picked off five passes in the Queen City.
Now the watch begins to see if Bell will join another former Buckeye as a new addition to the team when the C.J. Stroud watch begins during the 2023 NFL draft. The Panthers recently traded up to the No. 1 spot with the Chicago Bears.
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