Panthers Make First Big Splash In Free Agency

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The Carolina Panthers are making their first big splash in free agency by signing Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis to a reported three-year, $27 million deal. 

With longtime Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil retiring this offseason, acquiring a starting center this offseason was seen as a big priority for Carolina. 

Ranked by Pro Football Focus as the number two center in the NFL in 2018, Paradis, 29, started all nine of the games he played in before fracturing his fibula. 

Paradis finished the season with a 79 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and only allowed five pressures, ranking second among centers who played at least 20 percent of their team's snaps. 

Prior to the 2018 season, Paradis started all 16 games every season from 2015-2017. He didn't play during his 2014 rookie season.

Paradis never graded lower than 74  and was ranked as the 15th-best free agent on Pro Football Focus' Top 50 free agents this offseason. 

Signing Paradis could mean the Panthers will elect to draft a defensive player at No. 16 overall in the draft and makes it more difficult to re-sign offensive Daryl Williams to the contract he will likely demand. 

Here's a look at Matt Paradis' free agency profile. #KeepPoundinghttps://t.co/eBbNqVbvki pic.twitter.com/M3n8eRsJdM

— PFF CAR Panthers (@PFF_Panthers) March 12, 2019