Carolina Panthers 2022 end of season superlatives: Who made the cut?

Frankie Luvu – Carolina Panthers LB

• Honorable Mention: Jaycee Horn, Derrick Brown, Brian Burns.

Quite a few players can be honorable mentions for the Defensive Player of the Year superlative. But I came away quite infatuated with Frankie Luvu this season.

Not enough can be said about Luvu’s impact on the game. The Carolina Panthers defense looks like a different animal in the games he played.

Luvu is one of six NFL players to post 100 combined tackles and 7 or more sacks in a single season. Only 15 players have done so since 2001, with the ferocious linebacker being the only one to complete this feat in the last two campaigns.

With a desperate need for an edge rusher opposite another great candidate for this award, Brian Burns, Luvu made his presence felt from the linebacker position. Filling the void as best he could.

Luvu was a standout player in his limited role from a season ago after serving three years with the New York Jets. In 2022, the Washington State product posted career highs in tackles, sacks, pressures, and interceptions in his first year as a starter.

Luvu looks to be an integral part of the Panthers’ defense for years to come. Even though there could be big changes coming to the defensive second-level once again this offseason.