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Former Panthers' Playoff Success Makes Past Mistakes Sting Even More

Former Panthers defenders Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn have been outstanding in their first seasons with the Washington Commanders.

By Jovan Alford

Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Dec 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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The Carolina Panthers’ 2024 season has been over the last two weeks. The Panthers ended the regular season with an exciting 44-38 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons. 

Most fans are looking ahead to the offseason, where this team could make noise in free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. However, before getting to free agency and the draft in the spring, the NFL playoffs still have a few more games remaining.

Panthers fans hope to see Bryce Young and Co. in the playoffs next season, but right now, they see two former Carolina players making plays for their new team in the postseason.

Former Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu and safety Jeremy Chinn left Carolina this past offseason and joined the Washington Commanders. Luvu signed a three-year, $31 million contract with the Commanders, while Chinn inked a one-year, $4 million deal.

Luvu and Chinn were two under-the-radar signings for Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, which has paid huge dividends this season. During the regular season, Luvu had 99 combined tackles, 14 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, seven pass deflections, and an interception.

Meanwhile, Chinn had an outstanding season as a starter in Whitt’s defense. The 26-year-old defender posted 117 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, five pass deflections, three QB hits, two sacks and an interception.

The former Panthers defenders were all over the field in Washington’s playoff win over the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions.

Luvu had nine total tackles in the upset win, while Chinn had a team-leading 12 total tackles, a pass deflection, and the game-ending interception on Lions QB Jared Goff.

Seeing their performance on Saturday night against the Commanders might make some fans wonder what could have been this season.

The Panthers' defense desperately missed more firepower off the edge, and Luvu could’ve been that guy. And the back seven of the defense could’ve used Chinn, who has the versatility to play close to the line of scrimmage but also in the secondary.

However, the Panthers had a chance to bring back both guys in the offseason, but they decided to go a different route, which in hindsight was a bad move by the front office.

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