The Carolina Panthers head into the offseason with a lot of momentum after their performance in the second half of the season. The Panthers appear to have their franchise quarterback in Bryce Young, which is a great sign as he was benched earlier in the year.
The Panthers also have a quality starting running back and an improving wide receiver core that took strides and will have Adam Thielen back for 2025. While there’s a ton to love on offense, Carolina’s defense leaves much to be desired.
The Panthers’ defense took a step back after losing two key players in the front seven in the offseason with Frankie Luvu (signed in free agency with the Washington Commanders) and Brian Burns (traded to the New York Giants).
However, Carolina tried to remedy the issue by signing veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney to a two-year, $20 million contract in free agency. Clowney played okay in his first year with the Panthers, posting 46 combined tackles, 22 quarterback pressures, 11 QB hits, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.
Clowney was tied with A’Shawn Robinson in the team lead for 5.5 sacks. Despite the production from the veteran defender, he couldn’t replicate his 2023 stats with the Baltimore Ravens. Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes the Panthers should look to trade Clowney, who won’t be much help past 2025.
"The common theme here is that the Panthers should be looking to offload veterans who probably aren't going to help beyond 2025. Jadeveon Clowney is probably the best trade chip they have because he has proven production at a premium position. Clowney carries a reasonable $8.5 million base salary, and trading him would clear $7.8 million in cap space."Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report
If the Panthers were to move off Clowney this offseason, Carolina likely wouldn’t get a ton of draft capital in return. The best Carolina might get is a low Day 2 or a high Day 3 draft pick, depending on the team.
At the same time, if the Panthers trade Clowney, they must have a good backup plan. They need to find a quality replacement in free agency or use their early picks to address and find multiple edge rushers.