NFL free agency: Haason Reddick reunites with Matt Rhule in Carolina; A.J. Green agrees to deal with Cardinals

Matt Rhule’s pursuit of turning the Carolina Panthers into “Temple South” got even more blatant on Wednesday.

The former Temple coach’s latest squad picked up another former Owl, agreeing to a one-year deal worth up to $8 million with edge rusher Haason Reddick, according to several media reports.

The former first-round pick spent his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals but hit the market after tallying 12.5 sacks last year, including a five-sack game against the New York Giants last December. He struggled early in his career to find a role at linebacker, but found success last year as a pass-rush specialist.

Rhule, who coached Reddick during his four-year tenure as Temple’s head coach, is entering his second season with a Panthers team that had seven former Owls on the active roster last season, including quarterback P.J. Walker and wide receiver Robby Anderson.

According to an ESPN report, Reddick’s base salary is $6 million, but he could make up to $8 million with incentives. If he puts up another double-digit sack season in Carolina, he could be in line for much more the following spring.

The Arizona Cardinals made one of the splashiest signings of the day, agreeing to a one-year, $8 million contract with veteran wide receiver A.J. Green, who will play outside of Cincinnati for the first time in his nine-year career.

The Cardinals’ receiving corps is now full of household, proven names with Green, DeAndre Hopkins, and Larry Fitzgerald in the fold. Green, a seven-time Pro Bowler who will turn 33 next season, was one of the best receivers in the league for a multi-year stretch, but is a bit past his prime. He had 47 catches for 523 yards and two touchdowns last season as the third option in the Bengals’ offense. Still, the Cardinals were looking for a third option to pair with Hopkins and the 37-year-old Fitzgerald, and have gone with Green to do so.

The Cardinals also traded for Rodney Hudson on Wednesday, agreeing to send the Oakland Raiders a 2021 third-round pick in exchange for the 31-year-old center and a 2021 seventh-round pick. Hudson has made the Pro Bowl three times in his 10-year career, with his most recent appearance in 2019.

Unlike the two days prior, which featured droves of big-money contract agreements, the official start to the new league year was devoid of many eye-catching deals. The wide receiver market, led by former Lions wideout Kenny Golloday, JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers), and Will Fuller (Texans), has largely remained intact through the first three days of dealmaking. Curtis Samuel, who played for the Panthers last season, agreed to a deal with the Washington Football Team on a three-year, $34.5 million. According to an NFL Network report, Golloday is expected to visit with the New York Giants as the two sides have mutual interest.

The Eagles could be on the market for a low-cost receiver later in free agency now that they’re under the cap, so it bears watching what kind of deals the top guys receive.

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The Eagles missed out on the fire sale of proven backup quarterbacks on Tuesday, but there might still be hope.

According to an NFL Network report, the Jacksonville Jaguars are fielding calls for 24-year-old quarterback Gardner Minshew. While Minshew has only been in the league for two seasons, he could either be a solid backup behind Jalen Hurts, or even compete for the starting job in training camp.

The former sixth-round pick has been a spotty starter for the Jaguars, but new head coach Urban Meyer is preparing to build a team around Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in this April’s NFL draft.

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Minshew has started 20 games and has completed 66% of his passes, thrown 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. After missing out on Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jacoby Brissett, and Tyrod Taylor on Tuesday, the Eagles could be in the market for Minshew’s services.