The Panthers will use a second-round tender on restricted free agent offensive lineman Andrew Norwell, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. That tender will be worth $2.746MM.
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Carolina has now created a significant impediment to other clubs poaching Norwell, as rival teams would have to submit an (unmatched) offer sheet to the Panthers and sacrifice a second-round pick. That’s a steep price to pay even for Norwell, who last year graded out as the league’s No. 11 guard, per Pro Football Focus. Norwell, 25, has started 29 games over the past two seasons, firmly entrenching himself at left guard opposite Trai Turner.
Norwell is now the sixth restricted free agent to be tendered at the second-round level, joining Brandon McManus and Todd Davis (Broncos), Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Taylor Gabriel (Falcons), and Trey Burton (Eagles). No RFA has yet been offered a first-round tender.
In other Panthers news, the club announced that it’s reached a new one-year deal with wide receiver Brenton Bersin. Bersin, 26, wasn’t tendered as a restricted free agent yesterday, but he’s now back with Carolina on a presumably cheaper contract.
I do not understand why the Panthers keep Bersin on their roster. He is not an NFL caliber receiver and I don’t think he does much on special teams. But he went to Wofford and is a Charlotte native, so Jerry keeps him around.