CHARLOTTE, NC – The Carolina Panthers on Wednesday agreed a deal with free agent AJ Bouye as they try to improve their second position in this month’s NFL draft.
Bouye, a 2017 Pro Bowler, will be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season as part of a six-match ban he received last year for violating the league’s performance-enhancing policy.
According to the league, he will be allowed to participate in off-season and pre-season training.
Carolina signed veteran cornerback Rashaan Melvin of ten years for a one-year deal earlier in free agency.
Bouye, 29, was released by Denver in February after appearing in just seven games due to injuries and suspension. He was traded from Jacksonville to the Broncos in March 2020, after being a big part of the Jaguars series after the AFC Championship Game in the 2017 season.
Bouye entered the NFL in 2013 with Houston as an unknown free agent. He played well enough that in 2017 he received a $ 67.5 million deal with Jacksonville in five years.
He started six distinctions during the season in 16. He has had only two picks since then, and had nothing for Denver last year. In 69 starting careers, he has intercepted a total of 14.
Bouye is likely to appear in the lead in Carolina against Donte Jackson, who is in the final year of his rookie deal.
The former Central Florida standout will compete with Melvin, probably on the right.
The addition of Bouye reduces the urgency to use the number 8 of the concept on a corner. The team eliminated the need to draft a quarterback Monday after negotiating with the New York Jets with Sam Darnold, but general manager Scott Fitterer said it was not entirely the use of the eighth pick on the position. not.
“What we wanted to do in this concept through free agency, through this trade with Sam, was to just get rid of all the needs we have,” Fitterer said Monday. ‘We wanted to get to a place where the roster was in a good place, and we can take the best player at number 8. ”