4. Julius peppers, EDGE, Carolina Panthers
Contract: one-year, $3.5 million
This is a reunion everyone can get behind. After a near 10-year hiatus, Peppers returns to where it all started. The now 37-year-old nine-time Pro Bowler last played for Carolina back in 2009. During his first stint with the team, the future Hall of Famer recorded an average of 10-plus sacks in eight seasons.
Despite his rather advanced age, Peppers is still capable of providing a solid pass rush in a situational role. This was magnified last season when he tallied 7.5 sacks for the Green Bay Packers. All said, Peppers ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time sack list with the top three well within his reach.
It’s a solid on-field move for Carolina, who now has Peppers to team up with the likes of Mario Addision and Charles Johnson. That’s not a bad pass-rushing trio right there. It also came on a one-year deal with a base salary of $3.5 million. Should Peppers reach certain incentives, he would then earn $750,000 more. Not a bad price to pay for someone who can still pack the heat from the outside rush position.