The Panthers had four exclusive rights free agents heading into the 2019 offseason – ERFAs are players with two or fewer seasons in the league – that’s a status reserved almost solely for undrafted rookie type players as players drafted sign longer contracts according to the rookie scale. The Panthers had four players, two of which contributed along the defensive line, with this designation – running back Elijah Hood, safety Damian Parms and defensive ends Bryan Cox, Jr and Efe Obada.
After announcing Wednesday that they’d tendered a contract to Cox, Jr, the Panthers have now retained the rights for all four players for the 2019 season.
Cox, who has the most playing experience among the group, has played in 18 games and has 16 tackles to go along with four quarterback hirs over the past two seasons after going undrafted out of Florida in 2017; last season, Cox tallied seven quarterback pressures on 200 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-3, 270 pound defensive lineman’s skillset may be utilized as both an edge rusher and on the interior – Cox joins Obada and Marquis Haynes as depth behind Mario Addison, who led the team in sacks in 2018.
In addition to tendering Cox, the team announced that they’d signed linebacker Jared Norris, a key contributor on special teams, to a two-year contract on Tuesday afternoon.
Norris, who has played only 14 games over the past two seasons due to injury – including missing the final 13 games of the season in 2018 with turf toe – had the second-most special teams snaps on the Panthers in his rookie season behind fellow special teams ace David Mayo. With Ben Jacobs retiring and transitioning into a coaching role and Mayo a free agent, Norris looks to be one of the leaders on the special teams unit heading into 2019.
“I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m so happy to be in Carolina still with the teammates I have here and with what we’re capable of,” Norris, who has not played a defensive snap, told Bryan Strickland of the team website. “I’ve played a lot of special teams here. That’s my M.O., and I know my role there. That’s what I’ve been known for, but I also feel I have more to bring to the table. I would love to get on the field to play some defensive snaps. I have a burning fire inside me to do that.”
