Carolina Panthers make key decision on DJ Moore's future

DJ Moore is locked in with the Carolina Panthers.

Moore signed a four-year extension to stay with the Panthers, the team announced Friday. He was getting ready to play on his fifth-year option in 2022, but is now signed through the 2025 season. Carolina didn’t disclose his salary, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported it’s a $61.884 million deal with $41.61 million guaranteed.

The No. 24 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Moore has had quite a start to his career with the Panthers. He has 301 receptions for 4,313 yards and 14 touchdowns during his four-year NFL career. This past season, he totaled 93 receptions for 1,157 yards and four touchdowns as Carolina went 5-12.

The Panthers drafted Moore after a three-year career at Maryland from 2015-17. With the Terrapins, he had 146 receptions for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns before entering the draft.

Report: Carolina Panthers to sign former Temple defensive lineman

The Carolina Panthers have beefed up their defensive line. According to Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus, the Panthers are signing former Washington Commanders defensive lineman Matthew Ioannidis to a one-year deal.

“Former #Commanders DT Matt Ioannidis is planning to sign with the #Panthers, per @BussinWTB,” Meirov tweeted. “Will be a one-year deal.”

Ioannidis was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Washington out of Temple. He began his career in largely a reserve role, but started ten games in his second season in 2017. In 2018, Ioannidis turned into a valuable piece of Washington’s stout defensive front. That year, he totaled 31 tackles, six tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 7.5 sacks. Ioannidis followed that up with an even better season in 2019, finishing with 64 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, and 8.5 sacks.

Since the 2019 season, Ioannidis has struggled with injuries. He played in just three games in 2020, totaling seven tackles, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. This past season, he suited up for 16 games and had 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks.

Ioannidis played on a crowded Washington defensive line, sitting behind Jon Allen and Da’Ron Payne at defensive tackle and Chase Young and Montez Sweat at defensive end. With the Panthers, Ioannidis should be in line for a bigger role, and he’ll be looking to return to his 2018 and 2019 form.

By signing with the Panthers, Ioannidis is returning to his former head coach while he was at Temple. Matt Rhule was the coach of the Owls while Ioannidis played there, and now the two will be reuniting with the Panthers.