Matt Rhule discusses what role he envisions for Virginia Tech's Amare Barno

As the Carolina Panthers get their first look at rookies on the field, head coach Matt Rhule likes what he has seen from former Virginia Tech star Amare Barno so far, and fully believes in where he can go. After impressive pre-draft workouts, one of the NFL’s newest edge rushers will look to become a household name.

During a press conference following rookie minicamp, Matt Rhule discussed what role he envisions Amare Barno filling in the Panthers defense as a rookie and beyond.

“I think when we took him, we thought of like that Sam linebacker/pass rusher role that Haason (Reddick) played last year, that Frankie (Luvu) played last year,” said Rhule. “Marquis Haynes can play, (Brian) Burns can play, so you talk a lot about positions and stuff like that but at the end of the day, really a lot of the game comes down to third down. It comes down to being able to rush the passer.

“I think when it comes to Amare, we saw flexibility, but we also saw the ability to rush the passer and develop into someone who can rush the passer.”

Amare Barno signs rookie deal

Amare Barno became the first player from the 2022 NFL Draft class to finish up his paperwork and sign his contract this year. The Panthers reached an agreement with their sixth-round pick and decided to make some jokes about his speed in the announcement.

“Amare Barno appears to do everything at a high rate of speed. Including paperwork,” announced the franchise. “The Panthers’ sixth-round pick (189th overall) became the first draft pick in the league to agree to terms this morning and sign his rookie deal on Tuesday afternoon.”

At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, the Panthers sixth-round selection was the fastest defensive lineman in the class. Now, he has finished first among all rookie when it comes to signing his rookie contract and puts his name in the history books in another way.

According to the Panthers, Barno signed the standard four-year deal rookies have become accustomed to. The deal will not include the same fifth-year option as former NC State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu, who earns that as a first-round pick.

In addition to Amare Barno, Carolina put together a solid class, even with a minimum number of high selection. Among the other notable additions, former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral joined the team and took the Panthers out of the running for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.