▁Carolina ▁Pan thers ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁( 6 0 th ▁overall ) ▁pick ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁NFL ▁D raft . ▁ ▁Carolina ▁Pan thers ▁▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁season ▁ ▁On ▁May ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁E aly ▁signed ▁a ▁four - year ▁$ 3 . 5 5 ▁million ▁deal . ▁Per ▁Pro ▁Football ▁F ocus , ▁E aly ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁highest - grad ed ▁run ▁def enders ▁of ▁the ▁NFL ▁in ▁the ▁pr ese ason . ▁He ▁made ▁his ▁NFL ▁debut ▁performance ▁in ▁week ▁ 2 ▁when ▁the ▁Pan thers ▁defeated ▁the ▁Detroit ▁L ions ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 4 - 7 ▁victory . ▁In ▁their ▁week ▁ 8 ▁match up ▁against ▁the ▁def ending ▁champion ▁Seattle ▁Se ah aw ks , ▁E aly ▁had ▁his ▁best ▁game ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁two ▁solo ▁tack les ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁s ack ▁of ▁his ▁NFL ▁career ▁against ▁Russell ▁Wilson . ▁In ▁their ▁week ▁ 1 4 ▁win ▁over ▁the ▁T ampa ▁Bay ▁Bu cc ane ers , ▁E aly ▁recorded ▁his ▁ 2 nd ▁career ▁NFL ▁s ack ▁against ▁Josh ▁McC own . ▁E aly ▁followed ▁this ▁up ▁with ▁another ▁s ack ▁of ▁Brian ▁Ho yer ▁during ▁the ▁Pan thers ▁week ▁ 1 5 ▁win ▁over ▁the ▁Cleveland ▁Brow ns , ▁be ating ▁Joe ▁Thomas . ▁ ▁On ▁December ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁E aly ▁was ▁named ▁to ▁Sports ▁Illustr ated ▁All -