For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Carolina Panthers seem to have some semblance of direction moving forward.
The duo of Dan Morgan and Dave Canales have the Panthers in calmer waters. Coupled with the resurgence of second-year quarterback Bryce Young, things are on the up.
Canales deserves immense credit. This roster is devoid of sufficient levels of NFL depth. The defense was so decimated with injuries that the unit was trotting out mainly undrafted free agents. Surpassing the two wins attained last year is impressive.
As for Morgan, most of his early work has been undoing the mistakes made by his former boss Scott Fitterer. He revamped the offensive line with both Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt proving excellent acquisitions. We’ve also seen the majority of the rookie draft class have an impact. Jalen Coker and Demani Richardson are early undrafted gems.
NFL fans love to say what if. With the high turnover of players the Panthers have had over the past decade, it’s only natural for supporters to look back on former players no longer with the franchise and wonder what impact they could have had in 2024.
While it’s important to look forward to seemingly more positive times, it’s only natural for the mind to wander.
With that in mind, here are five former Panthers, including jack-of-all-trades linebacker Frankie Luvu, who Carolina wishes was still in the building.
Former Carolina Panthers players the team should regret letting go in 2024
Frankie Luvu - Former Carolina Panthers LB
The story of Frankie Luvu is an extraordinary one. A native of American Samoa, the former Washington State star went from a bit part special teams player with the New York Jets to a key piece of the Carolina Panthers defense in just a few seasons. Matt Rhule and his staff got little right. Bringing him in was a rare win by the former head coach.
Luvu’s last season in Carolina was his best since entering the league, gaining 125 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles. If the player was on a better team, he would have been in the Pro Bowl conversation.
However, Luvu was rewarded handsomely in the offseason. He signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Washington Commanders. The ferocious presence unsurprisingly picked up where he left off under the tutelage of defensive mastermind Dan Quinn.
Through 12 games, Luvu has 79 total tackles and seven sacks as the Commanders find themselves firmly in the NFC playoff picture. He is on pace for another 100-plus tackle season and is likely on the cusp of double-digit sacks. If this plays out, the inspiring figure will be in All-Pro conversations.
Josey Jewell has performed admirably as Luvu's replacement. But it’s hard not to miss someone like Luvu. He played with incredible heart and desire. He's sorely missed by teammates and fans alike.
Morgan said he wanted dogs in the Panthers locker room. No one epitomizes that mantra more than Luvu. He’ll be seen as one who got away by Panther fans for years to come.
Bradley Bozeman - Former Carolina Panthers C
A surprise cap salary-cap casualty this offseason was center Bradley Bozeman. The former Alabama star and his family set down roots in the region, quickly establishing themselves as pillars in the community. Unfortunately, the NFL is a ruthless business and he found himself surplus to requirements.
After a down year in 2023, partially down to a poor scheme fit and the carousals at the guard positions, Bozeman was cut. The Carolina Panthers took on over $7 million in dead money. He found a new home swiftly, signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Bozeman has been part of a revitalized offense under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers are 7-4 and firmly in the AFC playoff race. Don't be surprised to see them make some noise if they make it to the postseason.
The Panthers have had little problems at center this season. Austin Corbett, Brady Christensen, and most recently Cade Mays have all been deployed at the position and achieved success. However, one can only imagine the success Bozeman could have had in Dave Canales’ run-first offense.
Many of the problems Bozeman faced in 2023 stemmed from the issues at the guard positions. A plethora of injuries meant many players were deployed on either side of the veteran. But with the Panthers finding quality play from Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, Bozeman could have thrived in this new system.
While the Panthers haven’t suffered at the position in the absence of Bozeman, fans saw first-hand the damage he could do under Steve Wilks. He likely would have had a similar impact under Canales.
D.J. Moore - Former Carolina Panthers WR
The most obvious name that was going to appear on this list was former first-round pick D.J. Moore. Scott Fitterer is no longer the general manager in Carolina for a multitude of reasons. Looking back, trading up to select a potential franchise quarterback and trading away the Panthers' most prolific receiving threat was foolish.
A wide receiver room consisting of Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark, and Jonathan Mingo did little to aid in the development of Bryce Young. If the signal-caller had a true WR1 like Moore in his rookie season, one could only assume his development would be much further along.
Moore has continued where he left off in Chicago despite again suffering from below-par quarterback play. With Justin Fields under center in 2023, the Maryland product posted career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
Despite some early troubles with Caleb Williams, the firing of Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has coincided with Moore becoming a bigger part of the Bears offense. He is once again on pace to get around the 1,000-yard receiving mark as he has consistently been throughout his career.
If the likes of Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker continue to develop, then the absence of Moore will be felt less keenly. That said, if Young does not pan out as the franchise signal-caller in Carolina, many will point to including the wideout over Brian Burns in this trade as a huge factor.
Vonn Bell - Former Carolina Panthers S
Vonn Bell has performed at a solid level since being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The safety was best known for his time spent with the Cincinnati Bengals, playing a key role in their run to Super Bowl LVI after recording a crucial overtime interception on Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship.
Bell was expected to play a key role under new Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Injuries prevented the veteran from having the impact many expected, but he still formed a solid pairing with fellow veteran Xavier Woods at the backend of Carolina’s defense.
As general manager Dan Morgan looked to stamp his authority, Bell was deemed surplus to requirements. The Panthers took on almost $10 million in dead money to cut the player.
Carolina could have done with Bell’s experienced presence this season. Woods has regressed. Jordan Fuller has struggled with injury and has not been consistent enough. The only positive in the unit has been the play of undrafted free agent Demani Richardson.
Expecting big production from a rookie is not what Carolina wants. Nick Scott has been predictably poor whenever he has been required to step in, similar to what the player showed with the Los Angeles Rams and Bengals.
While Bell may not have been a long-term option in Carolina, the team would have been better off keeping him around.