What C Matt Paradis brings to the Carolina Panthers
The Denver Broncos are losing center Matt Paradis to the Carolina Panthers. What does the free agent bring to the table for his new team?
In Matt Paradis’ first year as an NFL starter back in 2015, the Denver Broncos went on a magical run all the way to Super Bowl 50 where they defeated the Carolina Panthers.
Now, Paradis is leaving the Broncos for the Panthers in free agency.
Paradis is the third Broncos free agent to leave Denver so far this offseason, joining offensive lineman Billy Turner and cornerback Bradley Roby.
Paradis was not entirely expected to return to Denver, but there was a chance he could return and he came from way out in left field with this destination. Almost everyone thought he was deciding between the Jets and Broncos.
Former Broncos’ C Matt Paradis intends to sign a three-year, $27 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019
The Broncos, according to Mike Klis, offered Paradis a one-year deal to return to the team that drafted him back in 2014.
Though Paradis is apparently getting $11.5 million in his first year, the average of $9 million per year on this contract puts him well below what the top centers in football are making, and if Paradis has proven anything over the last four years, it’s that he’s one of the top centers in football.
In essence, this is a bargain for the Panthers.
Paradis is 29 and will be 30 in October, so the Broncos’ offer of a one-year deal after he suffered a broken fibula this past year is not unreasonable.
It’s a shame to see a great player like this go, especially one the Broncos found so late in the draft.
Paradis was an overlooked sixth-round pick out of Boise State in 2014, and really impressed Peyton Manning in the 2015 offseason on his way to becoming the team’s starting center.
He started every single snap from the start of the 2015 season up until his fractured fibula this past year, including playing through hip injuries that required offseason surgery in 2017.
What are the Panthers getting here?
Well, first and foremost, they are getting one of the toughest players in the league at his position. Paradis has proven he’s willing to play through injury if need be, but he doesn’t just hobble along. When he plays, he plays at a very high level.
He’s a technician in the middle who is going to handle all of the calls for the offensive line. That was such an underrated aspect of his game that the Broncos clearly missed when he was gone this past year.
Paradis is not the most powerful anchor, but he’s a very good pass protector who moves his feet well, and he can get out in space in the running game.
Though he’s not a mauler, he’s not the type of guy you want coming at you with a head of steam.
Next. Broncos free agency day one recap. dark
This is a phenomenal move by the Panthers, getting a guy like Paradis for $27 million and half that guaranteed. This move is an absolute steal, and the Broncos will miss Paradis greatly.