4 underpaid Carolina Panthers players heading into 2023 offseason
By Dean Jones
Frankie Luvu – Carolina Panthers LB
- 2023 cap hit – $5.47 million
When the Carolina Panthers signed Frankie Luvu to an extension after starring in 2021, hopes were high that he could make another leap from a prominent starting position. This was accomplished and then some.
Luvu was dominant, energetic, and made plays almost at will. He was a constant menace in all three phases, which was matched by a growing emergence within the locker room to surge the player into an indispensable member of the roster.
The former Washington State standout racked up 111 tackles, seven sacks, 19 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, 13 pressures, and four passes defended last season. Luvu is the beating heart of Carolina’s defense and should thrive further within Ejiro Evero’s scheme next time around.
Luvu is set to count $5.47 million against the Panthers’ salary cap heading into the final year of his deal. It’s clear he’s outperformed this already, so it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the second-level defender gets an early extension before the 2023 campaign.
If the Panthers wait it out, then it could cost them more in the long run. But there’s no doubt Luvu’s more than proven his worth as a key component to any future success that comes to Carolina’s aspiring young defensive unit.