//Panthers bolster defense on first official day of free agency

Panthers bolster defense on first official day of free agency

The 26-year-old Reddick is the big fish, but also a familiar face to the Panthers’ staff.

He played for Panthers head coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow at Temple (with 9.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss as a senior), and he finally looked like the player they knew again last season.

Reddick was the Cardinals’ 13th overall pick in 2017, but managed just 7.5 sacks in his first three years, never flashing the same way he did in college. He flourished last year, with 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in Arizona.

At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Reddick is not the prototypical size for a pass-rusher, but the Panthers aren’t worried about templates on defense.

Between Brian Burns being an end-linebacker hybrid, and Jeremy Chinn able to play safety and linebacker, the Panthers are comfortable with guys who