Panthers tackle Michael Oher recently said he’d like to spend the rest of his career with the team. He definitely won’t be leaving soon.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Oher has signed a three-year extension with the Panthers. It carries $21.6 million in new money, with an average of $7.2 million and $9.5 million guaranteed. Of that amount, $8 million is fully guaranteed at signing.
Oher was signed through 2016, at a base salary of $2.35 million. Coupled with the extension, he’s under contract for four years and $23.95 million.
It’s a very good contract for a guy who has struggled to live up to the whole “Blind Side” hype at the NFL level since entering the league as a first-round pick of the Ravens in 2009. Most recently, Oher performed like part blocking sled, part Madden glitch in Super Bowl 50. If that wasn’t the result of the field or poor footwear choices (and it seemed to be the field), it’s on Oher.
Still, the Panthers (who haven’t been handing out market-value deals lately) feel strongly enough about Oher to give him a deal that seems to be very strong, especially in light of his overall body of work in the professional game.