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New Info Reveals Panthers Blew Chance to Sign 2025 Playoff Standout

The Panthers shockingly did not re-sign veteran LB Frankie Luvu, who is having a great first year in Washington.

By Jovan Alford

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan speaks at a press conference during the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center.
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan speaks at a press conference during the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The Carolina Panthers have seen two former players make game-changing plays and become key fixtures on the Washington Commanders' defense this season. Veteran linebacker Frankie Luvu and safety Jeremy Chinn departed Carolina this past offseason and joined Washington.

Chinn signed a small one-year, $4 million contract with the Commanders, while Luvu inked a three-year, $31 million deal. The Panthers could’ve used both guys this season as the defense lacked talent at all three levels.

However, Carolina general manager Dan Morgan had other plans and wanted to build the roster out how he saw it. That said, there was a narrative this past offseason that the Panthers offered Luvu more money, but the veteran defender didn’t want to be in Carolina any more.

The Athletic’s Joe Person was on The Kyle Bailey Show on WFNZ and dismissed that narrative regarding the Panthers and Luvu.

“Now I don’t think that’s accurate. I think the Panthers got in there late with a late offer, and at that point you know there was too much momentum going down the road to Washington, or up the road in this case,” Person said.

“I think they thought they could get Luvu and keep him, you know, just because he liked being here. And again they eventually got to the number where Washington was and maybe a little more. But it was late in the process and that ship had sailed.”

If we go off from what Person said on WFNZ, it doesn’t make the Panthers look good. Luvu is having a great 2024 season with the Commanders, who are one win away from the Super Bowl.

The veteran linebacker has been one of the key defenders in Joe Whitt Jr. 's scheme with 18 QB pressures, 14 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and seven pass deflections. No one on the Panthers had more than 5.5 sacks (A’Shawn Robinson and Jadeveon Clowney) this season.

At 28-years-old linebacker looks to be on the upswing in his career, which is good news for the Commanders, but bad for the Panthers, who should’ve shown more urgency to bring him back to the Queen City.

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