Even though the Carolina Panthers don’t know for sure when Cam Newton will be fully healthy again, they’re making sure next year’s quarterback – whomever it is – is better protected than last year’s. Case in point: the team has signed center Matt Paradis to a three-year, $27 million contract.
Paradis last played for the Denver Broncos, the only team he’s played for since being taken in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Paradis on taking over at center for Ryan Kalil: “He played a long time at a very high level. He’s someone I paid attention to on film to learn things from. It’s pretty cool to be able to follow behind him and step into those shoes.”
— Max Henson (@PanthersMax) March 14, 2019
The 29-year-old center played collegiately at Boise St. He missed seven games last season (and ended up on injured reserve), but started all 16 Broncos’ regular-season games each of the two years prior. He’s certainly come a long way since being assigned to Denver’s practice squad his first pro season.
Matt Paradis is at the podium https://t.co/nzGTVvLMOf
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) March 14, 2019
He was the starting center for the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl champion, but will now play for the team he helped defeat in Super Bowl 50, the Carolina Panthers.
Paradis takes over for recently retired Ryan Kalil, who was the Panthers’ starting center since 2008.
