3 Ways the Panthers Improved This Offseason (and 2 They Didn't)

2 Ways the Panthers Did Not Improve This Offseason

1. Guaranteed Pass Rush

Having improved defensive depth is good, though losing Brian Burns will still negatively impact the pass rush overall. He had 20.5 sacks over the last two years, is only 26 years old, and is widely considered one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. Losing that production hurts no matter what.

Jadeveon Clowney had 9.5 sacks with the Ravens last year surrounded by a top-five defense but will now have to lead Carolina's pass rush. Already 31 years old, that could prove to be a difficult task for a player who had only two sacks in 2022 with the Browns.

Chaisson is a former first-round pick that didn't quite stick in Jacksonville. He had two sacks last year but has untapped potential from his days at LSU. I believe this will be a solid pass rush, though you can't rely on the guaranteed production you got from Burns.

Clowney looked like he had plenty of football left in the tank last year. Derrick Brown and A'Shawn Robinson will help clog the middle, giving the Panthers a variety of ways to attack the backfield.

They could have taken a pass rusher early in the draft to theoretically replace Burns but chose to improve the offense instead. That's a defensible decision and in my opinion, a wise one. However, missing out on a chance to solidify the pass rush is still a consequence.