Defensive tackle Paul Soliai spent the past two years with the Atlanta Falcons, a stretch that coincided with the Carolina Panthers’ emergence as the class of the NFC South.
But it wasn’t just the Panthers’ winning culture Soliai noticed when the Falcons faced Carolina twice a season. It was the way the Panthers’ defense played with a youthful exuberance reminiscent of boyhood sandlot games.
Now Soliai will get to be a part of it after officially signing with the Panthers on Tuesday. The two-year deal is worth $7 million, including $4 million in 2016.
He said the Panthers were one of the first teams to approach him last week after Atlanta cut him last week two years into the five-year, $32 million contract he signed in 2014.