How the Carolina Panthers Revamped Their Defense
The Carolina Panthers have revamped their defense, and it might be the most underrated unit in the league. The Panthers gave up 534 points last season, which is the most ever. It’s fair to say that the team needed to spend on defense, draft defense, and develop defense, and that they did. They brought in two linebackers, two defensive linemen, and an underrated star safety in free agency, along with two second-day draft picks who both play on the edge. Carolina succeeded this offseason, turning themselves into a legitimate division contender, and here’s why.
Defensive Line
Carolina is getting Derrick Brown back this season after he missed almost every snap of 2024. This is huge for the defensive line as Brown provides a steady run-stuffer and veteran presence. He has real game-wrecking ability and is able to clog lanes and apply pressure, making him a true three-four defensive end. Since the Panthers run a three-four scheme, three linemen, four linebackers, it left two spots open: nose tackle and an end opposite the ex-Auburn Tiger, Derrick Brown. They addressed the remaining end spot in free agency, signing Chiefs standout Tershawn “Turk” Wharton. Canales and Co. drooled over Wharton’s pass-rush ability, giving him a three-year, 45 million dollar deal. Wharton is a slimmer lineman, but his agility and acceleration benefit from his frame. He will most likely be used on obvious passing downs. For the nose tackle spot, they opted for a young, safe option in Bobby Brown III. The ex-Ram brings some serious size at six-foot-four and 324 pounds. He stuffs runs and eats blockers, exactly what a nose tackle is meant to do. The team also drafted Cam Jackson on day three of the draft, adding depth to the DL room.
Linebackers
Cutting Shaq Thompson and Jadeveon Clowney indicates that the Panthers are attempting to get younger at the linebacker position. They brought in one inside backer and one EDGE rusher in free agency, both of which put up great numbers in limited time last season, and they still are looking to add more with the remaining free agents on the market. Christian Rozeboom logged 135 tackles in just 11 starts last season. He’s a good run stopper, complementing Josey Jewell’s coverage ability nicely. On the edge, Carolina took Pat Jones II off the market. Jones only played 44% of snaps last season, but was very productive. He put up seven sacks and forced a fumble in 2024. The Panthers also drafted two EDGE rushers in the draft. Their round two selection of Nic Scourton just seems like a perfect fit. Scourton was seen by many to be a top 20 prospect early in the draft process. In the third, they nabbed Ole Miss captain Princely Umanmielen, a guy whose upside is immense, but he may need some fine-tuning. Both of the rookies have a legit chance to start, but returners DJ Wonnum and FA signing Pat Jones II have their eyes set on the starting job as well.
Secondary
Carolina lost 100%-snap player Xavier Woods in free agency, but the player they got to replace him might just be a significant upgrade. Tre’Von Moehrig recorded 10 passes defended and 104 total tackles last season, and the Panthers think that’s just the beginning of what he can do. Moehrig steps up against the run and is a more than willing tackler. Last season, Carolina’s secondary repeatedly missed tackles and struggled against the run, adding Moehrig gives them a steady run defender with real upside in pass coverage. They also re-signed Jaycee Horn to a monster deal, keeping him in the black and blue for the foreseeable future. The team also retained starting boundary corner Mike Jackson. Jackson was a real bright spot for the Panthers last year, and getting him back meant they didn’t need to adjust the corner position in FA. Lastly, they drafted Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom, a hard-nosed, big-hitting safety who could get the chance to play right away.
Rookies galore and free agency signings give Panther fans some optimism going into 2025. A young core, including two superstars, and some under-the-radar contracts like Wharton and Moehrig, make this defense a scary one, and the versatility that a plethora of these guys possess makes them tough to gameplan for. Watch out for this unit this season, because they have a clear plan and depth. The Carolina Panthers are looking to build on a strong end to 2024, and with this much-improved defense, it’s not far-fetched to say they can win the NFC South.
