The Carolina Panthers re-signed tight end Ed Dickson to a three-year deal Tuesday, a league source told ESPN.com.
The contract is valued at $ 6.8 million with a $2 million signing bonus, the source said. There is a receptions-based bonus that can add $900,000 to the contract.
Dickson will officially sign after taking his physical. He had drawn interest from several other teams, but the Panthers reached an agreement with him before he became an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year Tuesday afternoon.
He signed a one-year, $635,000 deal with Carolina last offseason after spending his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens selected the former Oregon standout in the third round of the 2010 draft. He started 44 games for Baltimore, catching a career-best 54 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns in 2011.
He played opposite 2014 Pro Bowl selection Greg Olsen last season as the Panthers returned to a two-tight end set. Dickson spent much of the season filling the role of fullback Mike Tolbert, who suffered a fractured leg that sidelined him for eight games.
Dickson caught 10 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown during the regular season. He added three catches for 67 yards in two playoff games.
He was the fourth of Carolina's 11 free agents to re-sign. Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards re-signed to a two-year deal earlier in the day. The other two were backup quarterback Joe Webb and defensive tackle Colin Cole.