The Carolina Panthers have made their first move of the new calendar year. According to the official team website, they have re-signed defensive end Efe Obada to a one-year deal.
Obada is the poster boy for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He has not seen much time on the field since joining the team in 2017. However, Obada has flashed often enough to make him worth keeping around in a backup role. He has totaled two sacks, 11 quarterback hits and four tackles for a loss so far.
This season, Obada appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and was on the field for 306 defensive snaps, up from 187 last year.
Retaining Obada was an easy decision for the organization. What to do with the rest of the EDGE rotation will be harder, though. Mario Addison has been the team’s best pass rusher for several years but he’s now 32 years old and will become a free agent in a couple months. Bruce Irvin is also set to hit the market.
Ron Rivera always preferred to play veterans over young pieces like Obada and Brian Burns, so Irvin and Addison started most of the season.
The next coach should move Burns up and let him grow into a starting role in 2020. Regardless of what they do with Addison and Irvin, drafting another EDGE prospect to pair with Burns for the long run is a good idea.
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