Panther's sign Wesley

Panthers sign fourth-round pick Wesley

July 15, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Panthers signed cornerback Dante Wesley, fourth-round draft pick, to a three-year contract worth $1.239 million Monday. ADVERTISEMENT


Wesley's agent, Ray Savage, said Wesley received a $334,000 signing bonus and will make the NFL's league minimum base salary in each of the first three years.

``We wanted a four-year deal, but we're real happy to get this done,'' Savage said.

Wesley, the 100th player selected in the NFL draft, had seven interceptions in four years at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He is expected to battle with Terry Cousin, DeRon Jenkins and Reggie Howard for playing time at cornerback.

The Panthers have now signed five draft picks.

Still unsigned are the team's first two draft picks, Julius Peppers and DeShaun Foster, as well as fifth-round pick Randy Fasani and seventh-round pick Pete Campion. The players report to training camp July 26.

 

Wouldn't a 4 year deal have lowered his cap hit a bit, due to the longer pro-ration of the bonus?

Wonder why we wouldn't do that. I'm totally confident in Hurney, just curious as to what was more beneficial to us about a 3 year deal.

 

cause if he sucks we can get rid of him

 

You can get rid of him with a 4 year deal - just cut him. If the signing bonus isn't larger, it wouldn't cost you but maybe $75k more in cap hit.

Conversely, if he's GOOD, you get him for an extra year at league minimum before he becomes UFA, like we've done with Rucker.

 

That's good news though. Hopefully he'll surface as a starter, at least one of the youngsters is going to play the corner and I expect Cousins will play the other. We just have a slew of nicklebacks to sort through!

 

If he turns into anything, he'll do it in three years. Bottomline, if he's starting and producing, the deal gets redone after next year when we're in better cap shape. If not he's cut or allowed to leave via FA.