The Carolina Panthers have signed unrestricted free agent safety Roman Harper to a two-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.
Harper, 6-1 and 200 pounds, joins Carolina after playing the first eight seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints. Since being drafted by the Saints in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Harper has started 104 of 108 games played and has been selected to two Pro Bowls (2009, 2010). His 17 sacks since 2006 are the most among NFL defensive backs during that time.
In 2013, Harper started five of nine games as he was limited by a knee injury. He registered 29 tackles, one interception, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. Harper started all 16 games in 2012, posting a career-high 124 tackles (91 solo), and adding nine passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
For his career, Harper has recorded 730 tackles, 17 sacks, seven interceptions, 53 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
