CHARLOTTE — Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer mentioned that adding some safety help was a priority at the combine.
And they appear to have moved quickly to find one.
According to multiple reports, the Panthers are nearing a deal with veteran safety Vonn Bell. The deal can't become official until the league year starts on Wednesday afternoon.
The 28-year-old Bell spent the last three seasons with the Bengals and had four interceptions last season.
Originally a second-round pick of the Saints out of Ohio State, Bell has 93 career starts, six interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, and 11 fumble recoveries.
He's a proven starter in the secondary (where they have another solid veteran in Xavier Woods), and he gives them some flexibility with Jeremy Chinn.
Chinn could play a hybrid role in the new defense, and he's made more plays when he was closer to the line of scrimmage.
The veteran safety has spent the last three seasons with the Bengals, after starting his career with the Saints.
Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) runs the ball past New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (86) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) looks on before an NFL divisional round playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) runs for a first down while being chased by Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III (30) and Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) during during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) reacts to a call during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) tackles Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Buffalo Bills running back Duke Johnson (22) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) during an NFL football game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs as Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) defends during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) loses control of the ball under pressure from Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) tackles New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (11) makes a catch between Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) and safety Vonn Bell (24) in the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Joshua Bickel)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs as Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) defends during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell, intercepts a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens' Demarcus Robinson during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) makes an interception during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) celebrates his interception during the first half of a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) makes an interception against Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) during overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh won 23-20. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon (28) runs in for a touchdown as he's hit by Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) in the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell, left, tackles New York Jets' Garrett Wilson (17) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (17) protects the ball from Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) looks to get past Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) in the fourth quarter during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (25) tries to break a tackle by Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell, left, during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson (27) blocks Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) during the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Los Angeles Rams won 23-20. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers' Keenan Allen (13) makes a touchdown reception against Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Blake Bell (81) catches a pass while being covered by Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. The Bengals won 34-31. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, center, as Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) defends during overtime in the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Bengals won 27-24. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell (24) runs a route against Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Cleveland Browns' David Njoku, top, makes a touchdown reception against Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (10) runs after a catch in front of Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) in the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) returns a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell (24) plays during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
