The Carolina Panthers have decided to embrace a youth movement following the release of linebacker Josey Jewell. A former fourth-round pick, the Iowa product spent the first six years of his career with the Denver Broncos before joining the Panthers in 2024. Starting and appearing in 12 games, Jewell finished his lone season in Carolina with one interception, 3.5 sacks, 97 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, and four quarterback hits.
Josey Jewell isn’t the best player in the NFL by any stretch of the imagination, but the seven-year veteran can be a valuable player if healthy. That is admittedly a big if at this stage in his career, as he’s still in concussion protocol, which is incredibly worrisome at this stage of the offseason. However, if he can get healthy, the following four teams could roll the dice on the veteran.
4 Teams That Could Sign Josey Jewell After Panthers Release
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans need all the help they can get. While first-overall pick Cam Ward should help the offense, the defense is still a massive liability. Former Bronco Cody Barton is easily the best option on the roster, but the rest of the depth chart is comprised of untested and unproven players. Assuming he’s healthy enough to sign, Josey Jewell should win a starting job and provide crucial veteran leadership for this young room of linebackers.
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believes games are won and lost in the trenches, which makes this subpar linebacker room so surprising. Third-round pick Daiyan Henley had a strong 2024, but veterans Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye should not be starters for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Following his Panthers release, Josey Jewell should welcome a chance to return to the AFC West and play for a team that has a realistic shot of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in 2025.
Dallas Cowboys
Nobody loves buying low on medium-upside talent like the Dallas Cowboys. While the organization already took their risk with the Kenneth Murray trade, it wouldn’t hurt them to take a minor risk on Josey Jewell after his Panthers release. Despite his first-round draft capital, Murray only has one good professional season under his belt. A healthy Jewell is far more consistent, and hopefully, he can recover in time for the start of the season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lavonte David is an ageless wonder, but time eventually comes for us all. While the 35-year-old remains one of the game’s better linebackers, he can’t carry an entire unit by himself. The Buccaneers had a front-row ticket to watch Josey Jewell when he was their division rival, so they should know what he could bring to the table. With an improved Falcons and Panthers chasing the division, someone like Jewell could make a difference for a defense that needs more depth.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – Imagn Images
