2014 NFL Free Agency: Carolina Panthers re-sign Colin Cole
Although they struck a deal with wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery earlier in free agency and agreed to terms with another wide receiver, Jason Avant, on Monday, the Carolina Panthers have been hit hard in free agency.
They lost a trio of wide receivers – Steve Smith to the Baltimore Ravens, Brandon LaFell to the New England Patriots and Ted Ginn to the Arizona Cardinals. Safety Mike Mitchell also bolted for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Tuesday, the Panthers struck a deal with one of their own free agents, agreeing to a deal with defensive tackle Colin Cole, as first reported by Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer.
#Panthers have agreed to terms on 1-yr deal w/ DT Colin Cole,per league source. Cole started 13 G for CAR in '13 after being out of FB 2yrs.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) April 8, 2014
Cole went undrafted out of Iowa in 2003 and debuted for the Green Bay Packers in 2004. He left to join the Seattle Seahawks in 2009, agreeing to a huge deal. After three years in Seattle, Cole sat out the next two years, largely because of his ankle problems.
He returned to the NFL in 2013, starting 13 games for the Panthers.
Cole had 15 tackles and one sack last season.