5 Carolina Panthers legends that still need replacing in 2022
By Dean Jones
Luke Kuechly – Former Carolina Panthers LB
When Luke Kuechly dropped the bombshell of his early retirement after the 2019 season, it was a cataclysmic blow to the Carolina Panthers and their hopes of hitting the ground running under Matt Rhule. While the linebacker walked away for all the right reasons, it does not detract from what a body blow this was for the coaching staff and the fans who’ve beloved the player from the moment he entered the league.
There were a few eyebrows raised when the Panthers took Kuechly in the top-10 out of Boston College. However, any doubts were quickly quashed with exceptional production that saw the defender become one of the league’s best at the position in no time at all.
Kuechly went on the win NFL Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year in his first two seasons, was a five-time All-Pro and earned seven Pro Bowl selections over his eight-year career. These are Pro Football Hall of Fame credentials and the legendary figure in Carolina will come under consideration for a first ballot induction, one suspects.
Losing Kuechly was always going to come with a period of transition. The Panthers went with Tahir Whitehead in 2020 – which was nothing short of a catastrophe – and Jermaine Carter didn’t do enough to earn the spot long-term last season after Carolina opted to trade Denzel Perryman, who went on to enjoy Pro Bowl campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
This offseason may see Carter depart in free agency, leaving the Panthers back to square one in their pursuit of finding Kuechly’s successor.