The Panthers are have signed free agent safety Da’Norris Searcy to a two-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The pact is worth $5.7MM, and Searcy can earn as much as $3.1MM in 2017.
Carolina is on the lookout for defensive back help after releasing veteran Kurt Coleman earlier this month. Coleman played on nearly three-quarters of the Panthers’ defensive snaps in 2017, second only to fellow starter Mike Adams. At present, Colin Jones — who has spent most of his career as a special-teamer — is projected to start alongside Adams, but Searcy will give Carolina another option.
Searcy, 29, inked a four-year deal with the Titans in 2015 and began his tenure with the club as a full-time starter. Tennessee moved to a safety rotation in subsequent seasons, however, and Searcy saw only 33% playtime in 2017. A former fourth-round pick, Searcy managed 12 tackles and one interception last year while grading as the NFL’s No. 61 safety among 87 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
The free agent safety market has been extremely slow-moving this offseason, and even with Searcy off the board, a number of high-quality defensive backs remain available. Tre Boston, Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, Tyvon Branch, Ron Parker, and Reggie Nelson are among the safeties who have yet to land new contracts.
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