The Carolina Panthers are reportedly ready to give Dontari Poe another chance to explore free agency by releasing him.
A familiar face is getting ready to become a free agent once again with word that the Carolina Panthers are going to release defensive lineman Dontari Poe due to his cap hit being too much for the team to handle.
Jourdan Rodrigue and Joseph Person of the Athletic have multiple sources saying that Poe will hit the open market so that the Panthers can avoid the looming $13.145 million cap hit due in 2020. The Panthers will still have to pay Poe just over $3.3 million in remaining signing bonus money from his initial three-year, $28 million contract signed in 2018, but the money saved (nearly $10M) is worth it moving forward.
Poe was, at one point, the Chiefs most dominating defensive tackle for the first five years of his career. As the team’s first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, he was a nice parting gift from former general manager Scott Pioli for John Dorsey and Andy Reid to enjoy in their first few years in Kansas City.
After spending his first five years in K.C., Poe has spent the last three seasons playing for the Atlanta Falcons and then the Panthers. The Chiefs were uncertain about how well Poe’s back would hold up after suffering pain during the end of his tenure in K.C., but credit goes to Poe for playing starting the next 42 games in his career before sitting out the final few games this year due to a torn quad injury.
Poe had 22 tackles and 4 sacks last season for the Panthers. He has 20.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 49 quarterback hits in his eight year career. The two-time Pro Bowler will now look to sign with his fourth NFL franchise on the open market. Given he was a recent release and not scheduled for free agency, Poe is free to sign at any time.