5 defensive ends the Carolina Panthers should target in 2022 free agency
By Luke Gray
Carolina Panthers should target Jadeveon Clowney
- 2021 salary – $7 million
- Spotrac protected contract – 4 yrs $51.08M, annual salary $12.7M
If the Carolina Panthers wanted to make a splash in free agency, then taking the former No. 1 overall selection Jadeveon Clowney would certainly do that.
Clowney had a bounce-back year in 2021 after signing with the Cleveland Browns as he finished the year with nine sacks. The former Houston Texan had struggled since leaving the team he was drafted by, with stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans, where he totaled just three sacks.
Before that, Clowney was one of the premier ends in the league, becoming a three-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro pick during his time in Houston.
Similar to Haason Reddick, the issue with Clowney could be the cap hit as Spotrac projects him to earn more than $12 million per year in his next contract. However, the Browns navigated the cap issue by giving the defensive lineman a $4.5 million signing bonus, meaning he only counted $3.8 million toward the cap in 2021.
This would also be a return home for Clowney, who was born in Rock Hill and went to the University of South Carolina. This could have some sway if the Panthers decided to take a swing.
Pairing Clowney opposite Brian Burns on a long-term deal would give the Panthers two known commodities on the edge to trouble offensive lines.