Carolina Panthers end of season awards: 2021 edition
By Dean Jones
Frankie Luvu – Carolina Panthers OLB
The signing of Frankie Luvu from the New York Jets went under the radar. This was down to a less than stellar stint at MetLife Stadium and the fact he wasn’t even guaranteed a roster spot before training camp.
Luvu took little time settling into his new home, providing the Carolina Panthers with an energetic presence at the second level that saw the outside linebacker quickly cement his place on the 53 and also become an important part of the defensive rotation in the process.
To say Luvu exceeded expectations would be an understatement. The Washington State product was an absolute revelation, contributing significantly throughout the campaign en route to a sensational 86.7 grade from Pro Football Focus as a result of his efforts.
This is a solid foundation from which to build. Hopefully, the Panthers extend Luvu and the player can become an integal part of the team’s plans moving forward.
Perhaps a change of scenery was all Luvu needed.
And the obvious improvements are there for all to see.
With the futures of Jermaine Carter, Shaq Thompson, and Haason Reddick up in the air for differing reasons, extending Luvu becomes more important than ever. Although his production throughout the season won’t have gone unnoticed by other teams looking for assistance on defense.
For now, Luvu is a deserving winner of the Most Improved Player of the Year.