Grading the 5 latest Carolina Panthers signings in 2022 free agency
By Noah Bryce
Matt Ioannidis – Carolina Panthers DT
With the departure of DaQuon Jones in free agency, the Carolina Panthers were left with a hole at defensive tackle. Once the team also released Morgan Fox, this became even larger.
Enter Matt Ioannidis.
Another former Matt Rhule loyalist from their time together at Temple, Ioannidis is a massive human being. The defensive tackle looks more like a prototypical edge rusher than someone who lines up on the interior, but he has proven production and can impact the game on a three-down basis.
These physical attributes lead to a rather successful pass-rushing skill set, as one would expect from a player that is so big and fast when they get going downhill.
Putting a player like Ioannidis alongside the pillar that is Derrick Brown would be a fairly stout 1-2 punch along the inside that teams could not readily plan against. A pure run stop specialist with some pass rush capability alongside his complete opposite.
Where one lags behind the other can compensate.
That being said, it has been a few years since Ioannidis was at the peak of his abilities and it will remain to be seen whether a reunion with his former coaches will change that for the better. However, he is a force to be reckoned with when healthy and well worth the risk all things considered.
Grade: B+
This move can go so many different directions that it is hard to pin down a good grade. However, if the Panthers hit on Ioannidis, it could solidify the interior of the defensive line in a way that is incredibly enticing.