4 Panthers position groups that improved most this offseason

Carolina Panthers ILBs

Luke Kuechly was one of the greatest inside linebackers to ever lace them up and the Carolina Panthers were extremely fortunate to have such a top performer throughout his eight-year career. The task to find a respectable successor has been a challenging one, with the organization going down a new path for the third straight offseason since the perennial All-Pro hung up his cleats.

It was disappointing to see Jermaine Carter become so inconsistent in 2021. Especially considering the Panthers opted to trade away Denzel Perryman to the Las Vegas Raiders, who surged his way to a first-ever Pro Bowl selection following the move.

Perhaps it will be third time lucky for Carolina this offseason. The team moved quickly to snap up Damien Wilson in free agency and also got their hands on Cory Littleton to give their options another big shot in the arm.

Considering how good Wilson is against the run and how Littleton thrives in coverage, Carolina could be considering a rotational inside linebacker tandem rather than relying on one guy. This might be the answer they’ve been looking for, although something of a complication if an opposing offense is running a no-huddle scheme.

Whether this results in more consistency at the second level is up for debate. But it’s a potentially unique approach that could bear fruit providing everyone gets on the same page quickly.