Report: Carolina Panthers to sign running back Rashaad Penny
The Carolina Panthers are expected to sign free agent running back Rashaad Penny on Monday, according to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler. The former Seattle Seahawks ball carrier is reuniting with former Seattle pass game coordinator Dave Canales who is in his first year as a head coach of the Panthers.
Penny, drafted in the first round by the Seahawks in 2018 out of San Diego State, played the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He posted stats in three games, totaling 11 carries for 33 yards. He also had one catch for five yards.
In his first five seasons in the league, which were all spent with the Seahawks, Penny never broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He reached a career-high 749 rushing yards in the 2021 season when he had 119 carries. Penny also had six touchdowns in 10 games played.
Through his first six seasons in the league, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound running back has 348 carries, 1,951 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, and an additional 227 receiving yards. His last contract with the Eagles was for one year, $1.35 million.
Rashaad Penny’s rookie deal with the Seahawks was for four years, $10.76 million. The Seahawks ended up declining his fifth-year option, instead signing him to a one-year, $5.75 million deal for the 2022 season. Seattle drafted Penny with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round in 2018 after he rushed for 2,248 yards and 23 touchdowns for San Diego State in 2017.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit. Following the restricted free agent deadline followed the 2024 NFL Draft, which ran from April 25-27.