UNDATED (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a four-year, $72 million deal with offensive tackle Taylor Moton, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person told The Associated Press that the deal includes $43 million in guaranteed money.
The deal was reached about an hour before the 4 p.m. league-wide deadline for signing franchise players to long-term deals. If a deal had not been reached, Moton would have had to play the season under a one-year contract worth $13.7 million under the franchise tag.
Moton has started all 16 games in each of the past three seasons at right tackle and has been the team’s top offensive lineman during that span.
In other NFL news:
— A King County District Court Judge has ordered free agent defensive back Richard Sherman released from jail without bail following his arrest on suspicion of trying to break in to his in-laws’ home. The judge found probable cause that Sherman committed criminal trespassing, malicious mischief, driving under the influence and resisting arrest. A police report obtained by The Associated Press says Sherman’s father-in-law armed himself with a handgun and fired pepper-spray at the NFL cornerback to protect his family as Sherman tried to bust in the door of his in-laws’ home.
— Four NFL teams remain under 50% vaccinated less than two weeks from the start of training camp. That’s according to a person familiar with the vaccination rates who tells The Associated Press that Washington, Indianapolis, Arizona and the Los Angeles Chargers had the four lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the league as of Thursday. Pittsburgh, Miami, Carolina and Denver have the highest vaccination rates and are among seven teams that have achieved at least 85%. About 70% of players have been vaccinated.
— The Jets and Marcus Maye were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. The star safety will now play this season under his franchise tag tender. Maye will make $10.6 million this season and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
