CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers showed how much they value third-year quarterback Matt Moore and outside linebacker Thomas Davis, giving them the highest possible restricted free agent tenders to keep other teams from pursuing them when the NFL free agency signing period opens Friday.
Both players were given Level 5 tenders, meaning the compensation for any team wanting to bid for them would be first- and third-round draft choices going to Carolina if the Panthers chose not to match any outside offers. Now, there likely will be no offers coming.
Moore received a one-year contract tender offer of $3.043 million and Davis' was $3.268 million.
Moore originally was not picked in the 2007 draft and first went to Dallas as an undrafted free agent before coming to Carolina. He had a 4-1 record as a starter last season after Jake Delhomme was sidelined by a finger injury.
Cornerback Richard Marshall, tight end Jeff King, and defensive tackle Louis Leonard each received second-round tenders. That means a one-year, $1.759 million offer from the Panthers for King and Marshall, and $1.684 for Leonard. They can still shop for other offers, and the Panthers would have seven days to match. If they dont match, theyd get a second-round pick as compensation.
The Panthers chose Marshall in the second round of the 2006 draft, and he played well last year in his first season as a full-time starter, tying for the team lead with four interceptions and second on the team with 81 tackles.
Carolina put original round tenders on linebacker James Anderson (third round, $1.176 million), defensive tackle Tank Tyler (third, $1.101 million) defensive back C.J. Wilson (seventh, $1.01 million).
The Panthers will not make offers on kicker Rhys Lloyd, safety Quinton Teal or offensive tackle Rob Petitti, making those players unrestricted free agents, able to sign with any team without any compensation to the Panthers.
