Carolina Panthers agree on one-year, $2.6M deal with one-time Pro Bowl LB Cory Littleton
from Victor Barbosa, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
The Carolina Panthers announced a free agency signing on Sunday night that they hope will boost their linebacking group in 2022.
Cory Littleton played the first four seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams from 2016 to 2019, appearing in every one of the team’s 64 regular season games and starting 37 of them. His best season came in 2018, when he set career-highs in passes defended (13), tackles for loss (nine), sacks (4.0) and interceptions (three), while making a team-leading 125 tackles and earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors as well.
The Washington product was solid again in 2019, recording a career-best 134 tackles, while leading the Rams in that category and either leading the squad or sharing a lead in passes defended (nine), fumble recoveries (career-high four), forced fumbles (two) and interceptions (two). Littleton also added 3.5 sacks in 2019, his final campaign with Los Angeles.
He joined the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the 2020 season and despite missing two games while on the COVID-19/reserve list, he still racked up 82 tackles. Littleton played all 17 games for the Raiders last year and registered 98 tackles and four passes defended.
Report: Matt Ryan wants big new contract from Falcons
(Might he end up with the Carolina Panthers?)
from Larry Brown with Larry Brown Sports and from YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
The Atlanta Falcons publicly flirted with another quarterback, and now it’s time to kiss and make up with Matt Ryan. He may want a new contract from them as an apology.
Longtime Houston radio host Lance Zierlein, who also serves as an NFL Draft scout for NFL Media, was talking on Twitter Saturday about some of the quarterbacks on the trade block. Zierlein noted that quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo and Matt Ryan could be traded and all want new deals.
A fan responded to tell Zierlein that Ryan was on a reasonable contract. That’s when the radio host shared that he has heard Ryan wants a new 3-year deal.
Ryan converted some of his salary into a bonus to help the Falcons with the salary cap. He is taking home $23.75 million in 2022 and $28 million for 2023.
But now that Atlanta missed out on Deshaun Watson, Ryan may try to make the Falcons pay. Atlanta has had four straight losing seasons and doesn’t appear to be in any better shape for next season.
NOPE…..That is the answer to the Carolina Panthers QB question of the day….
ATLANTA — After 14 seasons and becoming the best quarterback in franchise history, Matt Ryan is moving on from the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta traded Ryan on Monday to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick, the team announced.
The Falcons moved quickly to add Ryan’s possible successor, agreeing to a two-year contract with quarterback Marcus Mariota, who is familiar with coach Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme from their time together with the Tennessee Titans. Smith and Mariota worked together in multiple capacities in the five years they were together with the Titans, including Mariota’s six games as a starter during the 2019 season. That was Smith’s first year as the Titans’ offensive coordinator.
The Panthers paid more (a lot more) for Darnold than the Colts paid for Ryan. Granted, Indy has to pick up a big chunk of Ryan’s massive contract, but still …
The Panthers have to have a new QB…They are talking Kenny Pickett, from the Pitt Panthers and Malik Willis from Liberty University…There is a very good chance that neither one of them will be around when it comes time for the Panthers to pick/draft in Round One….
Got to get a quarterback….