NFL Free Agency: Carolina Panthers to Sign Drayton Florence

After releasing Chris Gamble, the Panthers had an urgency to find a replacement for him at cornerback. According to Albert Breer, the Panthers have found that man.

Nov 18, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Drayton Florence (31) tackles Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Packers beat the Lions 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Drayton Florence told Breer that he was on his way to Charlotte, North Carolina this morning to take a physical. So expect an official announcements from the team that they have signed Florence to a contract as a Carolina Panther.

However, I question their decision to sign him. They released Gamble because they felt he wasn’t worth the price tag at his age and physical condition. Florence isn’t much younger than Gamble, and he too has had some injury issues too.

Last year he didn’t play for half the season because of a forearm injury.

He has a career total of 395 tackles, eighteen interceptions, and two touchdowns.

He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2003 in the second round. In 2008 he moved to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars for a season before heading up to Buffalo. After his stint with the Bills, he went to Detroit for a year where he now appears to be joining the Carolina Panthers for 2013.