Hackett: Moving to Carolina

Also see

• Schedule
• On Sky TV
• Messageboards

The Carolina Panthers signed former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DJ Hackett on a two-year deal as a free agent.

Hackett signed a $3.5 million contract after choosing Carolina ahead of Washington and Tampa Bay, where he also had a look around.

Seattle were thought to be keen to keep hold of Hackett but, with limited cash available on their salary cap and other receiving options such as Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram, they gave up on re-signing him.

The 26-year-old will be the number two receiver in Carolina, to add a viable alternative to Steve Smith.

"The opportunity that they presented to him, he felt like it was a really good opportunity," said his agent Kevin Robinson.

Options

He joins Muhsin Muhammad as new receiving options at Carolina, after they struggled without a second option to Smith when missing out on the play-offs last season.

Hackett certainly adds more firepower to the Carolina offence, although he could only manage six games last season due to an ankle injury.

A big and powerful receiver, Hackett will add to Smith's speed as Carolina hope to improve their aerial game for a big play-off push next season.