What does the signing of Justin Houston mean for the Carolina Panthers as we approach the first preseason game of 2023?
For nearly a year and a half, Carolina Panthers fans and media alike have been clamoring for a consistent pass-rushing threat opposite of Brian Burns after Hasson Reddick was allowed to walk in 2022 free agency for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Following Sunday's training camp practice, the organization announced they had finally signed a pass rusher, bringing in veteran and former Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Justin Houston.
Over the last couple of weeks, the Panthers were patient with their process when it came to evaluating the edge rushers on the roster. There was hope that throughout training camp someone like Yetur Gross-Matos, Marquis Haynes Sr., or even camp favorite Kobe Jones would emerge as the standout to be the No. 2 on the other side of Burns.
As it turns out, no one has stood out in the way general manager Scott Fitterer, head coach Frank Reich, or defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero had hoped. Gross-Matos is still working through his transition to being a 3-4 rush linebacker while Haynes has been out with a back issue. Jones has impressed, but not enough to warrant ignoring the position for much longer.
Thus, the Panthers decided to finally make a move in a position of need. Here's why the addition of Houston is one that the team should benefit from this season.
Justin Houston is a key veteran signing for the Carolina Panthers
At 34 years old, Justin Houston is still a productive pass rusher in the NFL. He was a key part of the Baltimore Ravens defense last year with 9.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits.
While he wasn't the same rusher that racked up 22 sacks with the Kansas City Chiefs 10 years ago, Houston is a quality edge defender that is an upgrade for the Carolina Panthers defense. Even if it's only for the short term.
After the Panthers announced the signing of Houston, I took a quick look at his game film from last season. I came away impressed with what he can still bring to the table despite getting older in age.
I was impressed with the power at the point of contact. When Houston got his hands on opposing tackles, you could see a vivid jolt from the former Georgia Bulldog. There were also consistent pass-rush moves and counters that I saw on his film with the utilization of combinations and inside counters to get opposing tackles off balance.
While Houston isn't as explosive as he once was, the three-time Pro Bowler is still quite adequate in this area as he shows plenty of burst in stunt and twist moves in the passing game. As a run defender, he is sufficient with sealing and squeezing gaps shut while setting the edge occasionally.
Houston has had an impressive career since being drafted in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft - the same year Carolina took Cam Newton at No. 1 overall. After 12 years in the league, another chapter is set to begin for the long-time pass rusher.
What Justin Houston signing means for Carolina Panthers defense
Following Justin Houston's signing, the Carolina Panthers have some interesting things to work out on the defensive side of the ball.
I expect Houston to be a starter, but he shouldn't be expected to play most of the snaps each game. Yetur Gross-Matos and Marquis Haynes SR. - should he stay healthy - will likely be a factor in the passing game.
John Ellis of The Roar podcast and 99.7 WRFX mentioned that Gross-Matos could be used in an area he flashed the most as a three-technique in sub-packages depending on the situation.
-Houston’s EDGE acumen gives Evero more freedom w/ Luvu’s utilization
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) August 6, 2023
-YGM can still be a factor, even situationally at 3-tech in sub packages
-Haynes (when healthy) produces at a high rate
-Sleep not on Deion Jones generating interior pressure (seeing some ILB blitz reps…
Haynes should likely still be a force as a situational pass rusher and could still be productive as a rotational presence. Third-round selection D.J. Johnson should get some playing time on early downs on occasion but don't expect much from the rookie out of Oregon immediately.
It will be interesting to see how the pass rush will look even with the acquisition of Houston. My expectations are that they will still be creative with their pressures and sub-packages. You could see Deion Jones on the field solely as a blitzer while Frankie Luvu roams the second level as a 'Rover'.
Ejiro Evero has a good mixture of youth and veterans on the defensive side of the ball. This is one of the better collections of defensive talent I've seen within the organization in quite some time.
These are exciting times for Panthers fans. The signing of Houston only adds to that.