Pro Sports

AP sources: Panthers agree to terms with Corbett, Woods

Posted March 14, 2022 7:00 am

By STEVE REED

FILE - Los Angeles Rams guard Austin Corbett (63) gets set during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 13, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms on a three-year $29.5 million contract with Corbett, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press condition of anonymity Monday, March 14, 2022, because the deal will not become official until the start of free agency on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File) The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Panthers moved quickly to upgrade their roster after a 5-12 season.

The Panthers have agreed to terms on a three-year $29.25 million contract with Los Angeles Rams guard Austin Corbett and a three-year, $15.75 million contract with Minnesota Vikings safety Xavier Woods, according to people familiar with the situation.

The people spoke to The Associated Press condition of anonymity Monday because the deals will not become official until the start of free agency on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-4, 306-pound Corbett should help a weak offensive line that surrendered the fifth-most sacks in the NFL last year. Corbett started all 33 games over the past two seasons for the Super Bowl champion Rams. He was a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.

The 26-year-old Woods is coming off the best season of his five-year career, recording 108 tackles and three interceptions in 17 starts for the Vikings. Woods spent his first four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, for whom he started 48 games and had five INTs.

Woods is expected to start at safety alongside Jeremy Chinn.

The Panthers also lost a key defensive player as linebacker Haason Reddick agreed to terms on a three-year, $45 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Reddick had double-digit sacks in each of the past two seasons, first with Arizona and then with Carolina.

The Panthers also released cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive end Morgan Fox in salary-cap moves Monday, freeing more money for their potential pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Both Bouye and Fox were due roster bonuses of slightly more than $2 million next week, and the moves will save the team more than $6.5 million in cap space in 2022.

The Panthers are now more than $32 million under the cap.

Bouye played in 10 games and started seven last season for Carolina and had 28 tackles and no interceptions before a foot injury ended his season. Fox started nine games and had 34 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks after signing a two-year, $8.1 million contract in 2021.

With cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Donte Jackson hitting the free-agent market, the Panthers could be very young next season at that position. Returning are last year's first-round draft pick Jaycee Horn and C.J. Henderson, acquired from Jacksonville last season for a third-round pick. Both are former top-10 draft picks. The depth at cornerback includes Keith Taylor, Stantley Thomas-Oliver and Troy Pride, all late-round picks by Carolina.

Yetur Gross-Matos is expected to fill Fox's spot on the defensive line.

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FILE - Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Minneapolis. The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms on a three-year, $15.75 million contract with free-agent safety Xavier Woods, according to a person familiar with the situation, Monday, March 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) The Associated Press

FILE - Carolina Panthers cornerback A.J. Bouye (24) heads onto the field before the start of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. The Panthers released cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive end Morgan Fox in salary cap moves Monday, March 14, 2022, opening more money for their potential pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. (AP Photo/John Cordes, File)/ The Associated Press

FILE - Carolina Panthers defensive end Morgan Fox (91) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Panthers released cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive end Morgan Fox in salary cap moves Monday, March 14, 2022, opening more money for their potential pursuit of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, File) The Associated Press

Carolina Panthers linebacker Haason Reddick (43) works against Arizona Cardinals Kelvin Beachum (68) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press that Reddick and the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms on a $45 million, three-year contract that includes $30 million guaranteed with a maximum value of $49.5 million. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb, File) The Associated Press

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