While the Super Bowl winner scrambled to keep some important players, the loser of the big game held on to two key performers even before free agency officially began Wednesday.
With Peyton Manning retired and Malik Jackson headed to Jacksonville, the Denver Broncos also could see their only experienced quarterback, Brock Osweiler, and one of their best linebackers, Danny Trevathan, bid good-bye. At least Super Bowl MVP Von Miller has been franchise tagged and won’t be going anywhere.
Carolina, which fell 24-10 to Denver in the Super Bowl, meanwhile retained All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert and re-signed defensive end Charles Johnson to a lower salary.
Johnson, cut last week, received a one-year contract worth $3 million to return to the NFC champions, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. He said Johnson turned down an offer in excess of $6 million from another team.
Johnson, 29, would have cost the Panthers $15 million in 2016 under the cap before he was cut.