Panthers need to add another frontrunner: why they haven’t and who they could target

SPARTANBURG, SC — While the carolina panthers continue negotiating with brian burns in a contract extension, the first two weeks of training camp have shown that they still need a pass rusher to complement their Pro Bowl pass rusher.

marquis haynes, Carolina’s top returning situational pass-rusher other than Burns, has missed more than a week with a back injury. And their cutting-edge young guys, particularly the third-round pick. dj johnsonthey have failed to distinguish themselves in Wofford.

Meanwhile, one of the best pass-rushers in free agency went off the market when the chicago bears signed Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5 million deal this week. But several veteran running backs remain available as the Panthers prepare for joint practices with the new york jets and the teams’ preseason game on August 12 in Charlotte, NC

Here’s a look at the Panthers’ situation at the position and the free agents they could target.

Will Fitterer seek outside help?

Panthers coach Frank Reich said he and general manager Scott Fitterer have been monitoring the running back market since Haynes was injured, and my feeling, even before the injury, was that they would add at the position before the season. Seeing the first two weeks of practice has only reinforced that.

“Scott and I have been talking about it a lot here in the last week,” Reich said Saturday, “so we’ll see how it plays out.”

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said it will be easier to evaluate outside linebackers once preseason games begin, and he’s not wrong. Still, I hope the Panthers make a move to get help for Burns.

Why haven’t they?

For starters, the Panthers weren’t interested in giving Ngakoue what he got from the Bears, who needed to spend some money to hit the salary cap. Also, almost all of the available pass-rushers are in their late 30s, some are already in their late 30s, and probably weren’t interested in being in camp on the dog days of summer if they didn’t have to.

Finally, Reich said the Panthers didn’t want to rush into anything. “I don’t want to rush ahead of time,” he said. “I wanted to see how it worked with Marquis, but keep the pulse.”

But with the Panthers set to break camp Thursday, I could see them add a pass-rusher in the next week or so.

So who’s out there?

It’s a long line of proven guys, which means they have some wear and tear and their best days are behind them. “All these guys are going to be older,” said a veteran NFC scout. “All these guys are way above their age.”

A look at possible targets:

justin houston: There have been rumors that the Baltimore Ravens will re-sign the 34-year-old, but it hasn’t happened yet. Houston makes a lot of sense for the Panthers, given his experience in 3-4 schemes most of his career and his experience with Reich in Indianapolis. The four-time Pro Bowler had 9 1/2 sacks and one interception last season with Baltimore.

Jadeveon Clown: Clowney’s production plummeted last season when he finished with just two sacks and four quarterback hits after racking up nine and 19 for the season. cleveland browns in 2021. Clowney, 30, attended the same Rock Hill, South Carolina, high school that stephon gilmorewho had a cameo with his hometown Panthers two years ago.

Melvin Ingram: Like Clowney, Ingram grew up in the Carolinas and played at the college level for the Gamecocks. The veteran Charger had a solid 33-year-old season in Miami last year, tallying six sacks and 10 QB hits while forcing a fumble and recovering two more.

robert quinn: The 33-year-old set a Bears record with 18 1/2 sacks in 2021, but fell short of that pace last season. Quinn had just one sack in 14 games and none after the Bears traded him to Philadelphia, where he wasn’t a factor.

carlos dunlap: Dunlap visited the Panthers last summer before signing a one-year deal with kansas city at the end of July. Dunlap, 34, had four sacks in 17 regular-season games and none during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl.

Carlos Nasib: He nflThe first openly gay active player signed with the Bucs in mid-August of last year after an injury to outside linebacker. gill cam. Nassib, 6-7, 275 pounds, 30, has recorded 3 1/2 sacks and six tackles for loss in 13 games.

flowers trey: Flowers has played in just 18 games over the past three seasons, posting just 3 1/2 sacks in that span. Flowers and Panthers defensive line coach Todd Wash were together in Detroit in 2021.

Kyle Van Noy: The 32 year old visited the Ravens in late July after finishing with at least five sacks in each of the past four seasons.

bruce irwin: Irvin, who played with the Panthers in 2019, told reporters in January that he had thought about retiring the past two offseasons, so he might be done. The 35-year-old had 3 1/2 sacks in 11 games last year after signing with Seattle in October.

Jason Pierre-Paul: After a Pro Bowl season with tampa bay In 2020, Pierre-Paul’s productivity has dropped dramatically over the past two years.

mario addison: The former Panther might have trouble catching up with anyone. Addison turns 36 in September and is coming off a one-sack season for houston.

Couldn’t the Panthers trade for a cutting edge running back?

Typically, teams are reluctant to trade pass-rushers because they’re a commodity. But trades happen. Cleveland acquired Za’Darius Smith from Minnesota in May in a trade that also included a trade of multiple late-round draft picks.

The Jets, who will be in Spartanburg this week, have a glut of pass-rushers after drafting Iowa State mcdonald in the first round. Teams have reportedly called out to the Jets on Bryce Huff, a former undrafted free agent whose 25.6 percent win rate on rush passes (by professional football approach) was the best among all edge defenders in the NFL in 2022. The Panthers will get to see firsthand in a couple of days Huff, a defensive end in the Jets’ 4-3 scheme who might not be a very good fit in the Evero 3-4. .

(Jadeveon Clowney Top Photo: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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