USAT: Panthers Wire audio clip

USAT: Panthers Wire

Mar 19, 2022

Don’t look now, but the Carolina Panthers are absolutely nailing free agency. So does this have to do with a more open approach from head coach/franchise czar Matt Rhule? - According to Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer, it very well could. He joined FOX Sports Upstate’s Game On with John and Richmond on Friday night to discuss the team’s flurry of fine free agent moves and suggested Rhule has been quite flexible in his decision-making this offseason. - “I think that Matt Rhule, I think that they all took a different approach in figuring out how to better work together,” Alexander said. “Matt Rhule still has final say on roster decisions, so he plays a heavy part in what goes on. But I’m sure that they are probably working together much better than they were last year to figure it out.” - They figured out a handful of deals thus far—as Carolina has inked the likes of safety Xavier Woods, linebacker Damien Wilson, defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis, punter Johnny Hekker and offensive linemen Austin Corbett and Bradley Bozeman to respectable deals. - Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer even had a little extra cash to re-up one of their own in wideout DJ Moore. The standout receiver signed a three-year extension, one worth over $20 million per season in new money, that’ll keep him around through the 2025 campaign. - Alexander went on to note that Rhule, unlike in the past, doesn’t have “total control” and doesn’t “make all the decisions.” And that increasingly collaborative effort should continue into next month’s draft. - “And I bet you he’d be more likely to say ‘yes’ than he probably would have been last year . . . if somebody else suggests something,” Alexander added. - We’ll see what that mindset leads to then, starting with their all-important sixth overall selection. - - RelatedPanthers reportedly not signing S Tyrann MathieuPanthers, WR DJ Moore agree to 3-year extension - - List - - Twitter reacts to Panthers' big-money extension of WR DJ Moore - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Panthers Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Panthers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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