Is Michael Oher headed back to the blind side?
The Carolina Panthers announced Friday that Oher has been signed to a two-year contract, a month after the offensive tackle was waived by the Tennessee Titans.
"We look forward to having Michael be a part of what we are building here," coach Ron Rivera said, in a statement released by the team. "He's a pro who understands what it takes to win. A big part of why we pursued Michael was his relationship with offensive line coach John Matsko and the opportunity to have him work with Ray Brown. We are excited to have him."
It's an interesting fit for Oher, whose once-promising career has hit a roadblock over the past two seasons.
The Panthers need a blind-side protector for Cam Newton after moving on from free agent Byron Bell. Although Oher has played primarily at right tackle of late, he began his career on the left side.
Matsko and Brown have shown a knack for getting the best out of developmental projects such as converted defensive tackle Nate Chandler and 2014 breakout starters Andrew Norwell and Mike Remmers.
It's far from a certainty that Oher will keep the pressure off Newton in 2015, but he picked the right coaching staff to maximize his potential.
With no true left tackles available on the open market, the Panthers did well to add an intriguing reclamation project in case there's no immediate help via early-round draft picks.
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