The Panthers signed Haason Reddick to pair with Brian Burns

Haason Reddick reunites with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule by signing with the Carolina Panthers.

With big-name pass rushers like Shaquil Barrett, Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon off the board, the next-best player available was former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick. Two hours after the start of the new league year, Reddick has a new home in the NFC.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Reddick is signing a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. The deal is for $6 million and can increase to $8 million total with incentives.

Panthers give Brian Burns a pass-rushing partner in Haason Reddick

Reddick does have a familiarity with the Panthers. Head coach Matt Rhule actually coached the linebacker during their time at Temple University. Through their four years together, Reddick accumulated 149 total tackles (47 for loss), 17.5 sacks, five defended passes, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. Now, the two are reunited in Carolina.

In his first three seasons in the league, Reddick did not really solidify himself as a premier pass rusher, but he flipped the script in 2020. In all 16 regular-season games, Reddick recorded 63 combined tackles (15 for loss), 16 quarterback hits, 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and four defended passes. Besides sacks and hits against the quarterback, Reddick also forced 34 pressures, 16 hurries and five knockdowns, per Pro Football Reference.

Rhule used all of his draft picks last year to improve Carolina’s defense. Now, he brings in a former Owl to potentially create a dominant pass-rushing duo with Brian Burns. The Panthers started off their Wednesday signing middle linebacker Denzel Perryman, and now they add Haason Reddick on the outside.

Panthers fans, your favorite team’s defense just drastically improved in one day.