The Carolina Panthers hope to see drastic improvement from their pass rush in 2025 after finishing 2024 with the second-fewest pressures, tied for the third-fewest sacks, and ranked 31st in pass-rush win rate. The Panthers bolstered their depth at EDGE in free agency by bringing in Patrick Jones II. They added more to the position in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Nic Scourton in the second round and Princely Umanmielen in the third round.
Adding these three players could result in the front office moving on from their veteran Pro Bowler.
The Carolina Panthers’ Pro Bowl pass rusher was on the chopping block
Given his age of 32, the Panthers bringing in three EDGE rushers, and his contract, Jadeveon Clowney faced an uncertain future in Carolina. Clowney enters the final year of his two-year, $20 million contract, and he is scheduled to earn an $8.525 million base salary along with a $13.775 million cap hit in 2025. There were reports that the front office has been actively looking to trade their three-time Pro Bowler before the draft.
Clowney is coming off a good but not great 2024 campaign, in which he led the team in tackles for loss, quarterback hits, and pressures and tied for the most sacks. He recorded 46 tackles, nine TFLs, 44 pressures, 11 QB hits, and 5.5 sacks in 14 games. He missed Weeks 6 and 7 with a shoulder injury and Week 14 with a knee injury.
They have devastating news for their Pro Bowler
According to Jeremy Fowler, the Carolina Panthers have released Jadeveon Clowney after failing to find a trade suitor. As a result, the Panthers will free up $7.775 million in cap space and incur $6 million in dead cap in 2025. Finally, now that Clowney is a free agent, he has a golden opportunity to sign with a pass-rush-needy team in contention for the playoffs.
Clowney was due $8.525M in salary, $2M of which is guaranteed. Panthers explored a potential trade on draft week, as @DNewtonespn previously mentioned, and went heavy on pass rushers on Day 2 of draft.
Three-time Pro Bowler now a free agent. https://t.co/kx0vkLFlr5
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 8, 2025
Which team makes sense?
The Detroit Lions make sense for Jadeveon Clowney because Aidan Hutchinson lacks a reliable complement after parting ways with Za’Darius Smith. Marcus Davenport is currently the projected starter but has not been able to stay healthy lately after missing their final 16 regular-season and postseason games with a triceps injury. Their next man up is Al-Quadin Muhammad, who has recorded four sacks in the last three seasons. Finally, the front office waited until the sixth round to address the position, selecting Ahmed Hassanein.
