Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke took until the final days of the offseason to squeeze himself into a new home. But the timing, as he'd explain, wouldn't get in the way of finding the right fit.
This afternoon, Okereke spoke for the first time since signing
with the Carolina Panthers. The 30-year-old defender and the reigning NFC South champions reached a deal this past weekend, and made their agreement official on Monday.Okereke was asked why he thought it took him and his agent so long to join a new team.
"Just being an eight-year vet at this point, I wanted to make sure I was going to a really good fit—position-wise, opportunity-wise," Okereke replied. "And, yeah, we've been having these conversations with multiple teams since basically March,
April.
"But just kinda knowing the belief and trust I have in myself, to prepare myself for a season, just wanted to make sure I was going to a right opportunity and it felt great—and obviously, it did here."
The 2025 campaign, his third with the New York Giants, saw Okereke record 143 combined tackles, a sack and two interceptions. Last year marked the fourth time over his seven NFL seasons in which he recorded at least 132 tackles.
General manager Dan Morgan, a linebacker at heart, told reporters earlier in the day that Okereke is expected to start alongside Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd in the middle of Carolina's defense. So, what will that end up looking like?
Okereke was later asked what the Panthers are getting in him.
"A seasoned veteran," he said. "A fast sideline-to-sideline guy, high football IQ and a playmaker. I've had a lot of forced fumbles, a lot of picks in my career. I'm excited to bring that here to Charlotte."
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: ILB Bobby Okereke reveals why he signed with the Panthers when he did
