The Steelers have signed former Panthers free safety Mike Mitchell to a 5-year, $25 million dollar contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The guaranteed money and year-by-year construction of the contract has not yet been released. Unless the deal is sufficiently front-loaded, this may signal the end of any Steelers interest in former Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner. His expected price tag appears to be too high for the Steelers cap picture now.
An athletic, hard hitting safety, Mitchell had 66 tackles, 4 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles in 14 starts last season for a very talented Panthers defense.
Carolina was among the best defenses in the league, and Mitchell was the starting free safety from Week 3 on, after Charles Godfrey was lost for the season due to injury. The Panthers won the NFC South and clinched the No. 2 seed for the playoffs, going on to lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.