After one season with the Washington Commanders, impending free agent safety Jeremy Chinn could return to the Carolina Panthers. A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Southern Illinois product spent four up-and-down years with the Carolina Panthers. After finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting during his inaugural campaign, Chinn followed it up with another strong 2021. Finishing the year with 108 tackles, one interception, and a 71.4 PFF grade, Chinn looked like a foundational player on this defense.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t build on that positive start. The safety struggled in 2022 and only played in 12 games during 2023. With a new coaching staff coming in 2024 and a focus on fixing the offensive side of the ball, Jeremy Chinn signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Washington Commanders. He proved it, finishing the year with a 68.9 PFF grade, the 32nd-best mark of 98 eligible players.
Now set to hit the open market for the second time in as many seasons, the Carolina Panthers could try and reunite with their former draft pick. However, they won’t be the only teams looking for a safety, as the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills could also be in the market for Chinn’s services.
Free Agent Jeremy Chinn Could Leave Commanders For Panthers, Ravens, Bills
Last year, the Carolina Panthers entered the offseason with holes littered throughout the roster. Knowing they couldn’t fix every issue in one offseason, first-year head coach Dave Canales and General Manager Dan Morgan focused on addressing the offense and ensuring first-overall pick Bryce Young could thrive in an optimal environment. That mission was a success, as Young played well down the stretch when complemented by a great offensive line and promising young playmakers. Now, it’s time for the team to focus on the defensive side of the ball.
Carolina ranked at or near the bottom of just every defensive metric last year, and it’s easy to see why. While Brian Burns was the biggest departure, the Panthers also lost Jeremy Chinn and Frankie Luvu to the Washington Commanders. These three, combined with the Week 1 injury to Derrick Brown, proved too much to overcome for this overwhelmed unit. Chinn alone cannot save this defense, but he can provide some much-needed stability to the safety position. Even after his strong season, he shouldn’t break the bank and prevent Carolina from going after a top pass rusher or cornerback.
Other Fits
The Baltimore Ravens spent most of the 2024 season trying to find a starting-caliber safety to pair with former first-round pick Kyle Hamilton. Marcus Williams had a disastrous follow-up to his strong 2023 and free agent signee Eddie Jackson clearly had nothing left in his tank. Former undrafted free agent Ar’Daiurs Washington played well down the stretch, but he never played at that level before. Perhaps he can keep it up in 2025, but the Ravens should consider stealing Jeremy Chinn from the Commanders if his performance proves to be a one-year fluke.
While the Buffalo Bills season ended in heartbreak, it’s officially time to start building for 2025. While Josh Allen could use another proven weapon in the passing game, the Bills defense must find better safety play. The days of peak Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are long gone, as Buffalo didn’t have a single safety finish the year with a top-45 PFF grade. Jeremy Chinn would be the best safety on the roster, and the Commanders free agent might be the difference in these close playoff losses.
Main Photo: Junfu Han – USA Today Sports
