Panthers tweak contract for C Matt Paradis, create $4.69 million in cap space

The Carolina Panthers are making money moves.

The Carolina Panthers are making money moves. Earlier this week, they released four veterans: defensive tackle Kawann Short, free safety Tre Boston, defensive end Stephen Weatherly and punter Michael Palardy. Those cuts freed up around $20 million more in salary cap space for the 2021 season.

They’re not done yet, either. According to a report by Field Yates at ESPN, Carolina has converted most of starting center Matt Paradis’ salary this year into a signing bonus, creating $4.69 million more in cap room.

Paradis had a rough 2019 season that may have been affected by his recovering from a broken fibula the previous year. He bounced back in 2020 though and it makes sense to keep him around as the team’s No. 1 center, especially considering every other starting offensive lineman is about to become a free agent. Paradis has one year left on his current deal.

Carolina should now have around $35 million in cap space.

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Panthers will rollover $4.27 million in cap space for 2021 season

The Carolina Panthers will roll over around $4.27 million in salary cap room for the 2021 season, according to Field Yates at ESPN.

The Carolina Panthers will rollover around $4.27 million in salary cap room for the 2021 season, according to Field Yates at ESPN.

Here is a look at the rollover amounts for all 32 NFL teams, per Yates.

While that’s not enough to go out and make any real splash signing in free agency, every little bit helps.

General manager Scott Fitterer is inheriting a challenging salary cap situation. His team needs more depth on the back end defensively and four of five starting offensive linemen are about to become free agents. Fitterer is also stuck with a mediocre quarterback on the books for at least another year and a history-making contract for a running back.

Panthers fans currently asking for the franchise to sell their children in order to trade for Deshaun Watson need to be patient and understand it’s going to take more than one big move to turn this thing around.

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