4 key stats that could regress for the Carolina Panthers in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers sacks per game
- 2.3 in 2021 (15th in NFL)
Generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks was something the Carolina Panthers managed to accomplish impressively in 2021. They had two stud edge rushers in Brian Burns and Haason Reddick, who combined for 20 sacks throughout the campaign and became one of the league’s more productive tandems despite the defense getting no help.
This will be more difficult next season after the Panthers let Reddick walk in free agency to sign for the Philadelphia Eagles. The consistency that the former first-round pick displayed over the last two years is hard to find and Carolina hasn’t done much to strengthen this critical area of the field in free agency or the draft to further heighten concerns.
Burns will obviously take on additional responsibilities in Year 4 of his professional career. The Pro Bowler must refine his skills to show more conviction when it comes to converting pressures into takedowns, which could see the Florida State product earn himself a megabucks payday along the way.
The Panthers are also looking for Yetur Gross-Matos and Marquis Haynes to step up from rotational pieces into productive starters when given the opportunity. Hopes are also high for Matt Ioannidis to create the necessary havoc alongside Derrick Brown on the interior.
Whether this will be enough for the Panthers is a huge question mark. One that could go a long way to determining just how much the team can progress in 2022.