Diggs Signs Contract Extension

Na’il Diggs will officially stick around Charlotte for the next five years, as the outside linebacker just struck a deal with the Carolina Panthers extending his contract through the 2014 NFL season. Diggs’ contract was set to expire in 2010, but the Panthers recently restructured his contract and signed him to an extension, dropping his base salary to provide salary cap relief. While Diggs’ 2009 base salary dropped from $1.65 million to $925,000, the linebacker will likely get some guaranteed money to be stretched over the course of his extended contract, helping get around the team’s salary cap issues.

As Diggs’ contract was recently adjusted, his new deal also helped ease the Panthers’ hurt from contract escalators for running back Jonathan Stewart, linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive end Tyler Brayton, whose contract accelerators moved a hefty $2.8 million in combined cap growth in the last year. Stewart’s 836 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008 gained him an additional $1 million to his base salary, while Davis’ 136 tackles helped propel a $700,000 rise in salary and Brayton’s career-high 4 ½ sacks and 59 tackles also aided in his $300,000 rise in pay.

To get Carolina Panthers tickets, go to StubHub.com.