The Panthers are bringing back Kyle Love, having signed the veteran defensive tackle to a one-year contract, the team announced today in a press release. We had heard last week that the two sides remained in touch, and it seems those conversations resulted in a new deal.
Love, 29, appeared in all but one game for the Panthers last season as a part of the club’s interior defensive line rotation. For the year, the Mississippi State alum recorded 19 tackles, three sacks, and a fumble recovery in the regular season, then added another sack in the playoffs.
After heading into the free agent period with no backups for defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, Carolina has now signed Love and Paul Soliai to contracts, creating a little depth up front. However, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets, that veteran depth likely won’t prevent the Panthers from addressing the defensive line in the draft as well.
Financial terms on Love’s new deal aren’t yet known, but he had a non-guaranteed minimum salary contract in 2015 — another minimum salary deal, perhaps with a signing bonus this time around, would make some sense.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
