Jonathan Stewart, one of the Carolina Panthers’ longest-tenured players, is sticking with the only franchise he’s ever called home on a new contract extension.
Jonathan Stewart extended by the Carolina Panthers to save cap space
Jonathan Stewart was given another year by the only team he’s played for as a pro, but it was a thrifty move by the Panthers.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the contract adds one more year to Stewart’s deal, keeping him under contract with the Panthers through the 2018 season. Due to count $8.25 million against the salary cap in 2017, the new contract is expected to spread the money out and alleviate some of the pressure on the Panthers cap situation in the immediate.
Stewart put together a solid 2016 campaign after running for more than 800 yards, but will be 30 years old next fall and ran for fewer than four yards per carry for the third time in his career. That combination of advancing age and accumulating wear and tear made his price tag difficult for the Panthers and made him a possibility to go on the chopping block.
He came into the league as Carolina’s first-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft, creating a potent platoon alongside DeAngelo Williams. The pair helped carry the Panthers offense with a thunder and lightning approach. Together, they combined for 45 rushing touchdowns in Stewart’s first two seasons in the league.
The duo shared the backfield in Charlotte for seven seasons, winning NFC South titles in three of them. While their pairing was great for the Panthers offense, it hamstrung each runner’s individual value. Stewart ran for 1,133 yards his sophomore season then never broke the four-digit barrier again, despite a handful of years when he averaged more than four yards per touch.
He cemented his place as the team’s top tailback in 2015 after Williams left for a gig with the Steelers, and the first year without his veteran counterpart resulted in Stewart’s only Pro Bowl bid. While his efficiency dipped in 2016, the 235-pound runner proved he’s still a dangerous goal-line threat, scoring nine touchdowns in 13 games.
Stewart is an aging athlete in a young man’s position, but he’s proved he can thrive in a platoon situation throughout his career. While the Panthers may still want to address the running back position in the draft, his hard-charged running and ability to crash over the goal line will make him a valuable part of the Carolina offense again in 2017.
See More:
