The Panthers are paying out $11.5 million in deferred signing bonuses today, according to Field Yates at ESPN.
Most of that money is going to linebacker Shaq Thompson, who signed a four-year contract extension in December. Thompson’s deal included $16 million in signing bonuses and he’ll be getting half of that total today. While we don’t know if Thompson or Tahir Whitehead will take over as the team’s new middle linebacker, it’s an investment in a player who’s going to be around for the foreseeable future.
The same can’t be said for the rest of today’s payments. Yates says former Carolina defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is getting a check for $2 million, stemming from the deal he signed last March. McCoy has already signed with the Cowboys, agreeing to a three-year, $18 million deal. Dontari Poe will be joining him there.
Former strong safety Eric Reid is also due a payment from the Panthers today, worth $1.5 million per Yates. In a surprise move, the team released Reid two weeks ago. While the move saved them $3 million in salary cap room, it added another $5 million to the dead money total.
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