The Secret Weapon: How This Panther Drives Carolina’s Success
The Carolina Panthers missed tackles, did not force turnovers, and gave up the most points in NFL history last season. Their pass-rush was atrocious, a position they did address in the draft by selecting Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen. Carolina’s secondary was banged up and needed an improvement at safety. They went on to sign Tre’von Moehrig, an every-game starter and former second-round draft pick for the Raiders. Both edge rusher and safety were solved, but the inside linebacker spot was still wide open. Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace are intriguing, but after releasing Shaq Thompson, the Panthers were in the market for a new player to man the mike position.
Enter Christian Rozeboom, a versatile, tackling machine who has played every game for the Rams since 2022. Playing all 17 games in a season is a feat itself, but to do it for three in a row is lunacy. Last season, Rozeboom really made a name for himself. He finished with 136 total tackles, which was good for the top 20 across the league. He also intercepted a pass. If he continues his rise as one of the best tacklers in the NFL, he could very well be the most pivotal player on this Carolina defense.
A year ago, the Panthers moved on from Frankie Luvu. It was a questionable move at the time, as Luvu provides versatility at the linebacker spot, as well as some serious passion and attitude, two things this team lacked big-time last year. The decision now looks even worse, as the ex-Washington State Cougar, New York Jet, and Panther earned a spot on the NFL All-Pro team. Rozeboom is not comparable to Luvu right now, but he is going to end up serving as a similar player for Carolina. Rozeboom plays extremely fast; he never stops moving. Thanks to his extremely high motor, it appears as though Rozeboom is involved in every play. His main trait is his play strength, though. He is not the fastest, he does not accelerate quicker than anyone else, and his coverage skills need work, but the ex-Ram simply has a nose for the ball, and he is going to run over anyone in his way to get it. He wins one-on-one battles, and at six-foot-two, he poses a threat against tight ends down the seam.
When looking at the Panthers’ current inside linebacker room, there are two names that stand out as starters right now: Trevin Wallace and Josey Jewell. Wallace, a third-round pick out of Kentucky one year ago, has immense upside. He is a great run stopper and can even rush the passer. Jewell, who is almost 30 years old, provides a good option in coverage. He is nicknamed “The Outlaw” because of his intense nature and leadership. That being said, there are two key things that Christian Rozeboom has succeeded at in his career. One of those things is catapulting himself up a depth chart, something he will need to do in order to be a primary linebacker on this team. The second thing is his ability to win over coaches with his hustle and determination. Going undrafted automatically puts a chip on a player’s shoulder, and Rozeboom has embraced said chip.
Taking a look at the Panthers’ history in signing middle linebackers, they have been nothing short of excellent. Two names that stand out are Frankie Luvu, who was discussed previously, and Carolina legend Sam Mills. Mills was only in black and blue for three years, but his impact changed Panthers football. His motto, “KeepPounding,” is now the Panthers’ official slogan. It is also written on the inside of every player's collar.
The signing of Rozeboom has the potential of being another slam-dunk free agency addition for Carolina. If Christian Rozeboom sees as much time as he did in Los Angeles, he is going to be a difference maker in Charlotte. He is going to need to beat out some returning players at his position, but as offseason training activities approach and the workouts get going, it is the perfect time to start paying attention to Christian Rozeboom.
