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We now know where Bruce Irvin is going to play next season, and it’s not Atlanta. Irvin signed with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
No compensation deals have emerged for Irvin yet, but we do know it’s a one-year deal.
Former Falcons’, Raiders’ and Seahawks’ DE Bruce Irvin reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2019
Irvin signed with the Falcons in the middle of the 2018 season and quietly became an impact player. He finished the season with 3.5 sacks over eight games. Vic Beasley was more impactful in games when Irvin was also on the field, suggesting that Irvin’s veteran presence was a benefit.
Still, the Falcons apparently did not intend to try to retain him.
Falcons did not offer Bruce Irvin a contract. Falcons around $6.5 million in cap space according to NFLPA.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) March 19, 2019
According to NFL Network’s Tiffany Blackmon, Irvin’s a good fit for what the Panthers plan to do this season defensively.
This goes along with the Panthers plans to incorporate more odd fronts because of Bruce’s ability to play LB/DE
— Tiffany Blackmon (@tiffblackmon) March 19, 2019
Irvin was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons with the Seahawks, playing for Dan Quinn in 2013 and 2014. He landed with the Raiders after the Seahawks declined his fifth-year option, and remained with them through part of the 2018 season, until the team released him in Nov. 2018, and he reunited with Quinn in Atlanta.
We thank Irvin for his contributions to the Falcons and wish him well in Carolina — for 14 games out of the season, at least.