Longtime NFL veteran Julius Peppers will rejoin the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal according to Joe Person. Peppers signed a similar one-year deal with Carolina last year and spent the first eight seasons of his now 16-year career with the team.
DE Julius Peppers will re-sign with the Panthers, per league source. Expected to be a 1-yr deal.
What I wrote about Peppers last night:https://t.co/WZJPcxAwEn— Joe Person (@josephperson) March 14, 2018
Report: Julius Peppers Rejoining Carolina Panthers on One-Year Deal
Peppers, 38, signed with the Panthers in 2017 on a one-year deal after spending the previous seven seasons with the Chicago Bears (2010-2013) and Green Bay Packers (2014-2016).
The future Hall of Famer had a stellar season in 2017, playing in all 16 games while starting five games. He finished the season tied with Mario Addison for the team lead in sacks with 11. Carolina used the nine-time Pro Bowler mostly on passing downs until Charles Johnson‘s suspension forced the team to increase his playing time.
Peppers was drafted by the Panthers with the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft out of North Carolina where he was a unanimous All-American (2001) and a two-time member of the First-Team All-ACC team (2000, 2001).
Peppers would not disappoint in his rookie season with Carolina, finishing the season with 12 sacks and five forced fumbles despite playing in only 12 games. He would miss the final four games of his rookie season due to suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Despite the suspension, Peppers would go on to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
During his first eight seasons with the Panthers, the future Hall of Famer recorded 81 sacks, which is why he’s a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
After the 2009 season, Peppers would sign a lucrative six-year deal ($91.5 million, $42 million guaranteed) with the Chicago Bears. Despite making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons with Chicago, the Bears released the veteran defensive end following the 2013 season after failing to trade him.
In 2014, Peppers would sign a three-year contract ($30 million) with the Green Bay Packers. During his seven seasons in the NFC North, Peppers would record 62.5 sacks and make four Pro Bowls.
Peppers is among the most prolific sack leaders in NFL history with his 154.5 sacks ranking fourth all-time.
