The auditions continue.
Throughout the offseason program, the Carolina Panthers tested several candidates to complement top-edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Their search? On-going.
Entering Sunday’s NFL regular-season opener at the New Orleans Saints, the Panthers planned to field three additional outside linebackers, DJ Johnson, Eku Leota, and rookie waiver-wire pickup Jamie Sheriff. All remain unproven. None have recorded an NFL sack.
The Panthers produced the league’s fewest sacks (27) last season.
Outside of Clowney, who will deliver pocket pressure?
Dave Canales, who prepared to coach in his first game Sunday, remains curious.
“We got a whole group, so we got to take that all the way to gameday,” Canales said. “We’ve got a group of guys we’re counting on. They’ve had a lot of opportunities to show us what they’re doing.”
@Panthers OLB Jadeveon Clowney engages in a drill during Tuesday’s #NFL mandatory minicamp … pic.twitter.com/aZwiG7mSAo
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) June 12, 2024
Jadeveon Clowney Talks Up Peers
The first opportunity likely will go to Johnson, the 2023 third-round draft pick who suffered through a near-invisible rookie campaign. Listed as a Week 1 starter in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 base defense, Johnson recorded just 16 tackles (six solo) and one pass defended in limited snaps last season.
A native of Rock Hill, S.C., Clowney told reporters he is pulling for Johnson.
“I think he had a great preseason, he was getting better during (training) camp,” said Clowney, who has 52.5 career sacks. “I’m just looking forward to seeing him go out there and showing a lot of people up this year and proving a lot of people wrong.
“I think he can do it.”
In his second professional season, Leota has yet to make an impact since leaving Auburn. In eight appearances last season, Leota totaled four total tackles, including two solo. He also contributed one-half of a stuff.
Sheriff is a raw prospect who produced three preseason sacks for the Seattle Seahawks, before being released on cutdown day. An undrafted free agent out of South Alabama, Sheriff’s effort caught the attention of Panthers general manager Dan Morgan.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that can go,” Clowney said. “DJ can go. Eku can go. There’s a lot of good guys that can go. We just got to show it.”
@Panthers LBs DJ Johnson (52) and Eku Leota (46) take a seat following Saturday’s @NFL training camp practice … pic.twitter.com/9Gs1bqNhx8
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 3, 2024
GM Dan Morgan Focusing On Edge Depth
The edge position likely will remain a work in progress for Morgan, who retains the top waiver-wire claimant through Week 3.
In what appeared to be a salary-cap dump, the Panthers entered game week by cutting former first-round draft pick K’Lavon Chiasson and his approximate $2 million contract. While diminishing the depth of the outside linebacker room, the move helped Morgan get the Panthers under the NFL salary cap.
Clowney’s projected bookend starter, D.J. Wonnum (torn quad) remains sidelined and on the PUP list, along with Amare Barno (knee). Both will miss at least the next four weeks. Former top edge veterans Randy Gregory, Yannick Ngakoue, and Charles Harris remain available on the free-agent market. Harris worked out for the Panthers on Aug. 30 but was not offered a deal.
“I think somebody really needs to separate themselves over there,” Morgan said.
As long as Clowney remains healthy, Canales said he was confident the Panthers’ front, led by defensive lineman Derrick Brown, will produce quarterback pressure, but the search for a proven OLB2 continues.
“Right now, still, we’re looking for somebody to step up and take that job,” Canales said. “So this is not something where it’s just like, ‘Hey, you’re the starter, here we go.’ This is like, ‘Show us. Show us what you’re about.’ “
@Panthers pass rush specialist Jadeveon Clowney takes a breather during @NFL voluntary minicamp April 24 … #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/JaS64yRG60
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) June 13, 2024
