Frankie Luvu – Carolina Panthers OLB
There were some increased expectations on Frankie Luvu in 2022 after the outside linebacker caught the eye on a rotational basis during his first season with the Carolina Panthers. Judging by what we’ve witnessed from him so far, it’s clear he was more than ready for such responsibilities.
Luvu is rapidly becoming the heart and soul of Carolina’s defense. His athleticism, energy, and enthusiasm are traits everyone else seems to be feeding off, with the Washington State product also emerging as a leadership presence within the locker room to further enhance his influence.
The former undrafted free agent was everywhere on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Luvu made big plays all over the field and set the tone with a forced fumble early that was scooped up by Marquis Haynes for the game’s opening touchdown.
This is another step in the right direction for Luvu, who has 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, and a 65.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus as a result of his efforts to date. Carolina made the right call keeping him around this offseason and considering what they paid, it’s already looking like a tremendous bit of business.
Keeping this up for an entire season is the next big test for Luvu. One that he looks more than capable of attaining.