The Carolina Panthers and Rico Dowdle are entering a precarious situation. He's out of contract and wants to be paid. General manager Dan Morgan has a price in mind, but he's not going to deviate from that as part of his long-term plans for the future.
Dowdle should generate interest on the free-agent market. He's got two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in a row now, and he'll want some added financial security. The Panthers aren't going to overpay, given the options they already have. And the recent extension given to Javonte Williams by the Dallas Cowboys sets a bar that Carolina may not be willing to match.