How Did the Carolina Panthers Re-Build Their Defensive Line?
2024 was not kind to the Carolina Panthers’ defense. The unit conceded 534 points, a new record for most points ever given up by a defense in a single season. Carolina could not rush the quarterback, and stopping the run was an afterthought. The team rotated different defensive line combinations in and out, but nothing seemed to click. Panthers general manager Dan Morgan made it a point this offseason to drastically improve the defense, and it all starts in the trenches. Here is how the Carolina Panthers rebuilt their defensive line.
Derrick Brown, DT
Derrick Brown, arguably the best player on Carolina’s roster, sustained an injury in Week One that kept him on the sidelines for the whole season. Was Brown’s absence the only reason the Panthers struggled so much in run defense last year? No, but it was a big part of why. In the 2023 season, the former first-round pick out of Auburn had 103 tackles, the most ever in a single season by a defensive tackle. Brown brings an elite level of football IQ and incredible strength to this defensive line, and ultimately will be a huge part of the turnaround that Carolina is eyeing.
Bobby Brown III, NT
The nose tackle position is not flashy. They are often the biggest player on the field and have one job: clog lanes and take up space. There was no better NT on the open market this offseason than ex-Ram Bobby Brown III. The Panthers signed him to a three-year, $21-million deal, hoping to gain consistency in the middle, as well as some much-needed tenaciousness across from the center. Brown III stands at six-foot-four and weighs 324 pounds, so the size will not be a problem on the Carolina line. He was PFF’s 27th-highest graded run defender at the position in 2024, and he is only going to improve. This is a relatively under-the-radar signing that has the potential to significantly transform the Panthers' run defense.
Tershawn Wharton, DT
Tershawn “Turk” Wharton plays the game of football with attitude, passion, and a good sense of what blockers are being thrown his way. He struggles defending the run, but that is fine given Carolina’s two elite run-defending interior linemen, Brown and Brown III. Wharton was a hot name in free agency, and after the Panthers failed to nab Milton Williams, they went right after the ex-Chief in Wharton. He had seven sacks in 2024, by far his career high, and was a huge part of the Chiefs’ playoff run. This adds a true pass-rusher to an already stout group, and could be a deal that is considered a bargain shortly.
Cam Jackson, NT
At nose tackle, Cam Jackson has had over 32 tackles in each of his last three collegiate seasons. He is an absolute unit in the center of the line and is a real threat to push veteran A’Shawn Robinson off the 53-man roster. Jackson was taken in the fifth round of the draft this year, but is almost considered a lock to make the roster, given how thin the Panthers are at the position. Jackson started his college career at Memphis, where he was one of the better defenders on the roster. He then transferred to Gainesville and was a steady starter for two seasons as a Gator.
Nic Scourton, EDGE
This Aggie may have been the best value pick of the entire 2025 NFL Draft, as he was top-10 in a plethora of pre-season big boards and was at one point a first-team All-Big Ten level player. Nic Scourton started his career at Purdue, and his phenomenal play and unreal production, especially as a sophomore, where he tallied 10 sacks and 50 tackles. He is a pass-rush technician, using a plethora of moves and doing so very strategically. Scourton’s spin move is beautiful to watch, too. He will provide a young, strong, powerful presence for the Panthers' edge rusher room. He is also 20 years old.
DJ Wonnum, EDGE
When the Panthers signed DJ Wonnum, it was considered a low-risk signing because he had not proven much in the NFL yet, but he showed glimpses of really good pass-rush potential. His first game last season, after starting the season on injured reserve, was against the Giants in Munich. He looked great in that game, pressuring Daniel Jones into uncomfortable throws and even making a few nice plays in the run game. If Wonnum is healthy, he will be a primary edge rusher in this Carolina rotation.
Pat Jones II, EDGE
The Pat Jones II signing was so perfectly done, as Jones II fits this scheme incredibly well. The Panthers have a deep edge room full of potential, but there are only two proven guys: Wonnum and the ex-Viking, Jones II. The former third-round pick had a career year in 2024, where he notched seven sacks and forced a fumble. He struggles against the run, but with how many options and how good the interior is, that should not be an issue. On passing downs, Jones II provides a consistent amount of pressure off the edge. He can also get scorching hot, as he had three games in 2024 where he put up multiple sacks.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE
Princely Umanmielen was considered a second-round talent by many, yet he slipped to Carolina in the third. The former Gator and Rebel was a true leader in college and gives the Panthers some serious length and agility off the edge. He may not be a featured part of the pass rush early on, but the upside with Umanmielen is immense. He has SEC experience and has been impressing in camp thus far.
