The terms behind Eli Apple’s agreement with the Carolina Panthers have been revealed. And as it turns out, it took the majority of their remaining salary cap space to acquire the cornerback’s services.
According to Ian Rappaport of NFL Network, Apple signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. The former New Orleans Saint also received a $750,000 signing bonus.
Given the player reportedly accepted an offer of $6 million a year with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason before the move hit a late snag. It represents a bargain for the Panthers and one that Apple has the potential to outplay if he can turn around his fortunes.
The player was prudent to take this sort of financial commitment at this particular stage of free agency. The move also comes with a realistic option to start that he might not have got elsewhere.
It does present the Panthers with a problem financially going forward. They now have just over $255,000 in cap space remaining following Apple’s signature. This represents a significant dilemma for a team that has only signed one of their Draft class so far.
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