Panthers, TE Ian Thomas agree to new three-year, $16.5M deal

Per Darin Gantt of Panthers.com, Thomas was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 16. The team's fourth-round draft selection from 2018 posted 18 receptions for 188 yards in 2021, but made more of an impact in a different way, according to Gantt.

"But he has evolved into a reliable blocker, and is walking into a revamped offense which leaves room for growth as a receiver. He had 36 catches for (333) yards and two touchdowns as a rookie," he wrote. "New coordinator Ben McAdoo's system has always been friendly for tight ends, and having Thomas and Tommy Tremble gives them a place to start this offseason, as they revamp the offense."

Thomas is another player who Carolina has elected to extend as they were on the verge of becoming a free agent, as they signed linebacker and special teams ace Frankie Luvu to a two-year deal last week as well.

While Thomas just finished off a season in which he played in all 17 games (starting 13 of them), all of his career-high receiving numbers came in 2018 as a rookie. That year he registered 36 receptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns on 49 targets, good for a 73.5% catch percentage.