ExtremeRavens Posted May 8 Posted May 8 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers released veteran Jadeveon Clowney on Thursday after selecting two edge rushers in the NFL draft. Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft, had 5 1/2 sacks last season for the Panthers. The 32-year-old had one year left on his two-year, $20 million contract. The Panthers drafted Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton in the second round and Mississippi’s Princely Umanmielen in the third round in last month’s NFL draft with an eye to getting younger at the position. Carolina also signed free agent Patrick Jones II in free agency. Carolina’s other edge rushers include D.J. Wonnum, DJ Johnson, Amare Barno, Kenny Dyson, Thomas Incoom and 2021 second-round pick Boogie Basham. Clowney tied a career-high with 9 1/2 sacks for the Ravens in 2023 and was a key contributor on a defense that became the first to lead the NFL in sacks, takeaways and points allowed per game. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with Baltimore in August and thrived with the Ravens under then-defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. In addition to ranking second on the team in sacks, he had his best pressure rate, pass-rush win rate and most total pressures in a season, according to Pro Football Focus, and was a disruptive force against the pass and run. He also had 43 tackles and two forced fumbles. “I enjoyed coming to work,” Clowney said of his time in Baltimore after the 2023 season ended in the AFC championship game. “It made my life a lot easier this year. That’s probably why I played at a high level because I [didn’t] have any pressure. I would just come in, have fun and be yourself and just play ball. There was never any pressure throughout the week on anybody, but yes, I would love to come back here.” The Panthers also placed running Jonathon Brooks, the team’s second-round pick in 2024, on the physically unable to perform list — meaning he will not play in 2025. Brooks re-tore the ACL in his knee as a rookie in Week 14 after suffering a similar injury to the same knee during his final season at the University of Texas. The Panthers had prepared for just such a scenario with Brooks, adding depth to the running back room this offseason by signing free agent Rico Dowdle from the Dallas Cowboys and drafting Trevor Etienne from Georgia in the fourth round. Carolina also waived tight end convert Colin Granger, a former college basketball player, as part of an injury settlement. The team also released tight end Jordan Matthews and receiver Dax Milne, and waived receiver T.J. Luther, offensive lineman Andrew Raym and defensive tackle Jerrod Clark. View the full article Quote
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