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Panthers re-sign pass-rusher Addison to 3-year deal

Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers announced Sunday they have re-signed defensive end Mario Addison to a contract extension through 2019.

The deal is worth $22.5 million over three years, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Addison, the Panthers' sack leader in 2016 with a career-high 9.5, was set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

Pass-rusher is a major need for the Panthers, so retaining Addison might be just the first step in a plan to address the need this offseason.

But it's a big step, as no Panthers defender has more than the 29-year-old Addison's 22 sacks over the previous three seasons. Defensive tackle Kawann Short is the closest with 20.5 sacks, and locking Short up on a long-term deal could be the Panthers' next move.

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