Carolina Panthers sign OLB Thomas Incoom

Thomas Incoom's extension earns a C- Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a deal that carries real risk for the Panthers despite its modest headline number. At $2M annually, this is a below-market commitment for an outside linebacker — a position where above-average starters typically command $4M–$6M AAV — which on the surface suggests value creation. However, the C- CVI grade signals that production, age, durability, or guarantee structure likely creates enough concern to offset the salary savings, meaning the Panthers are gambling on a narrow window of contribution relative to what they're wagering. With the team sitting at 8-9 and holding a playoff seed, this feels like a low-risk, low-reward depth move designed to fill snaps without major cap burden, rather than a high-conviction investment in an ascending talent. The real cost isn't the dollars — it's the opportunity cost of tying guaranteed money to a player who doesn't move the needle on either a contention timeline or a long-term build, leaving the Panthers neither meaningfully stronger nor notably worse off when the 2026 regular season begins in three months.