CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- This may put into perspective how far Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has come when it comes to the size of his checkbook for free agency.
He spent about $54 million on free agents over the past three years, according to numbers compiled by ESPN. That was the least amount in the NFL, with the Green Bay Packers the next highest at around $68 million.
He has more than $50 million in cap space this year after clearing just under $4 million on Tuesday with the release of fullback Mike Tolbert and defensive tackle Paul Soliai.