The Carolina Panthers made a lot of shrewd signings to improve their lackluster defense this offseason. There's growing hype around one becoming the most important of the bunch.
While the hype centered on Carolina's reinforcements on the defensive front, splashing the cash on safety Tre'von Moehrig could be equally, if not more, pivotal. The Panthers have lacked a genuine enforcer on the backend for years. This could be the answer to their secondary's prayers if everything goes according to plan.
Moehrig's taking the responsibility seriously. The Panthers are expecting him to set the tone, and he did just that throughout Carolina's offseason program. His partner in the starting lineup is to be determined, but that doesn't detract from his impressive start and future outlook.
Analyst expects Tre'von Moehrig to lead Carolina Panthers' defensive resurgence
This was a topic discussed by Enzo Flojo of Clutch Points. He named Moehrig as a breakout star to watch next season. The analyst thought that if he could lead by example on and off the field, a defensive resurgence in Carolina wouldn't be too far behind.
"[Tre'von] Moehrig brings the kind of stability and physicality that this defense desperately needs. If he can elevate the Panthers’ run defense even to league-average, it could significantly improve their time-of-possession numbers. That would reduce pressure on the offense. Look for Moehrig to become the vocal and physical leader of a remade secondary. If Carolina’s defense turns things around in 2025, don’t be surprised if Moehrig becomes one of the faces of that transformation."Enzo Flojo
To say this represents the best-case scenario would be an understatement. The Panthers gave Moehrig a decent contract in free agency, which indicates those in power are convinced he can become a big piece of the puzzle. Considering that Demani Richardson and rookie Lathan Ransom remain unknown quantities, they need the former second-round pick out of TCU to hit the ground running.
If Moehrig accomplishes this, and the team's other arrivals also meet their targets, Ejiro Evero's unit will be more competitive. And this will also make the defensive back one of the league's best pieces of business along the way.
Moehrig has a superstar swagger that's hard not to love. With a bigger price tag comes loftier expectations. Based on the early returns, he's more than capable of meeting them.