- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 400,704
- Reaction score
- 43
The Carolina Panthers and running back Rico Dowdle didn't seem to be a likely pairing in free agency this offseason. But according to Dowdle himself, there are quite a few reasons why this could be a match made in heaven for 2025.
Dowdle, who agreed to a one-year, $6.2 million deal with Carolina last week, chatted with Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com to discuss his decision to sign on. And while the appeal of coming home to his friends and family certainly played a factor, the Asheville, N.C. native pointed to the team's offensive line as a huge pull for him.
"That's something you look at, at the offensive line, evaluate it like, 'OK, yeah, those guys are doing that, you know, they're pretty good,'" Dowdle said. "So when I knew I was coming here, I started doing my research and stuff on the O-line, seeing all the positive on it and how they've built it up these past couple years. So definitely was intriguing to see.
"With those guys up front, I've watched a little bit of film already, and those guys, they pretty much run mid-zone, similar to what—we ran outside-zone in Dallas."
Not only is Carolina fielding its best offensive front in quite a few years, but they're also doing it with the all-important continuity.
The Panthers were able to bring back centers Austin Corbett and Cade Mays as well as versatile backup Brady Christensen. Their returns—specifically those of Corbett and Mays—will allow Carolina to line up a familiar starting unit in 2025.
That group helped running back Chuba Hubbard rip off a career season in 2024, where he ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Dowdle is also coming off his best pro campaign, as he rushed for 1,079 yards and two scores for the Dallas Cowboys.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Rico Dowdle reveals why he signed with Panthers
Continue reading...
Dowdle, who agreed to a one-year, $6.2 million deal with Carolina last week, chatted with Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com to discuss his decision to sign on. And while the appeal of coming home to his friends and family certainly played a factor, the Asheville, N.C. native pointed to the team's offensive line as a huge pull for him.
"That's something you look at, at the offensive line, evaluate it like, 'OK, yeah, those guys are doing that, you know, they're pretty good,'" Dowdle said. "So when I knew I was coming here, I started doing my research and stuff on the O-line, seeing all the positive on it and how they've built it up these past couple years. So definitely was intriguing to see.
"With those guys up front, I've watched a little bit of film already, and those guys, they pretty much run mid-zone, similar to what—we ran outside-zone in Dallas."
Not only is Carolina fielding its best offensive front in quite a few years, but they're also doing it with the all-important continuity.
The Panthers were able to bring back centers Austin Corbett and Cade Mays as well as versatile backup Brady Christensen. Their returns—specifically those of Corbett and Mays—will allow Carolina to line up a familiar starting unit in 2025.
That group helped running back Chuba Hubbard rip off a career season in 2024, where he ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Dowdle is also coming off his best pro campaign, as he rushed for 1,079 yards and two scores for the Dallas Cowboys.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Rico Dowdle reveals why he signed with Panthers
Continue reading...
