Carolina Panthers sign C Luke Fortner

Luke Fortner's one-year, $2.75M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a low-cost depth acquisition that carries modest upside but marginal impact on a roster fighting for relevance. At center, Fortner enters as a solid starter-tier option rather than a foundational piece, bringing veteran presence without franchise-altering implications. The $2.75M AAV is the kind of prove-it money that insulates Carolina from cap risk — this is a no-guaranteed-money contract dressed as depth insurance, not a long-term commitment. The value equation hinges entirely on execution: if Fortner stabilizes the interior line and stays healthy over a full season, the Panthers are getting above-market efficiency at a marginal price; if injury or performance decline occurs, sunk cost is negligible and replacement is straightforward. For a team sitting at 8-9 with postseason positioning on the line, this is exactly the type of low-leverage, low-ceiling move you make when you cannot afford draft capital or dead money, only when you need proven floor at minimum spend. The CVI reflects competent roster construction rather than brilliant value-finding — it's the financial equivalent of treading water.