5 free agents the Panthers missed out on in 2020
By Dean Jones
Linval Joseph – DT
Linval Joseph did not have to wait long before finding a new home. After he was released by the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers that included an $8 million signing bonus and $9.5 million guaranteed.
The defensive tackle was on the field for 62 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in his first year with the franchise. He proved to be an elite run stuffer and managed to secure 48 combined tackles, three sacks, and a pass deflection.
Injury restricted Joseph to 12 regular-season games in 2015. He still performed well during the campaign and attained 56 tackles, a forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks.
Joseph bounced back in fine style the following season, playing all 16 games and recording 77 tackles, four sacks, and three forced fumbles during a standout campaign.
He followed this up with another productive season in 2017. Joseph was a force to be reckoned with and was rewarded with 67 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Things did not go according to plan in 2018, which saw the player regress considerably.
His 26 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble didn’t tell the full story of how well he performed over 13 regular-season games in 2019.
Joseph was a relatively cheap option when one considers his impact both on the field and in the locker room. He would have provided the Carolina Panthers with a nice veteran presence for a couple of seasons. This could have allowed them to focus on other areas of need during their rebuild.