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Jadeveon Clowney #42 of the Dallas Cowboys

The Carolina Panthers will try to patch up their pass rush for the 2026 season. After losing Brian Burns in 2024, the Panthers’ pass rush has regressed significantly.

In 2025, the Carolina Panthers had a 34% pass-rush win rate. As a result, the Panthers ranked 16th in total defense. They ranked 20th in the NFL against the run and 15th against the pass.

Despite these rankings, Carolina is being pushed to bring back a veteran pass rusher who will help boost their defense.

Carolina Panthers Advised to Bring Back Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 after being released by the Carolina Panthers.

Clowney is set to be a free agent again this offseason. Clowney recorded 8.5 sacks during the 2025 season. During Clowney’s time with the Panthers in 2024, he recorded 5.5 sacks. His 5.5 sacks in 2024 would have led the Panthers in 2025.

“Clowney’s 5.5 sacks (in 2024) led the team and would have been top marks in 2025 as well, so their decision to cut the veteran to save some money (and open playing time for Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen) wasn’t exactly the smartest.” Zach Roberts wrote in a Sports Illustrated article.

“The Panthers were probably a little foolish to cut Jadeveon Clowney after the 2024 season. Financially, it helped, but the Panthers had the second-worst pass rush in 2025 and clearly missed Clowney.”

Bringing back Clowney would bring a much-needed boost to the Panthers’ pass rush. Adding Clowney could patch the hole in both the run and the pass. Meanwhile, other pass rushers in Carolina did not step up.

“Nic Scourton was good, but he wasn’t great, and everyone else was pretty much nonexistent. Having Clowney would’ve prevented them from signing Pat Jones, who was a bust and missed most of the year anyway.” Roberts wrote. “The Panthers aren’t likely to go after Trey Hendrickson, Khalil Mack, or the other costly stars, so Clowney makes sense.”

“It would allow them to right their wrong and it would undoubtedly help their ailing pass rush. Assuming Scourton can develop further and Princely Umanmielen gets better, it would probably result in the best pass rush the Panthers have had in years.”

Jadeveon Clowney’s History and Consistency

Clowney’s possible return to Carolina would be a trip back home for the veteran. Though he struggled early in his career, he has given solid production to NFL teams recently.

“Back in 2014, Clowney was viewed as a generational talent with freak athleticism coming out of South Carolina and was picked first overall by the Houston Texans.” Ryan Smith wrote in a PFF article. “While he never quite lived up to the All-Pro potential many thought he had due to injuries and inconsistent play, he has put together a strong NFL career to this point.”

“Since the start of 2015, Clowney has finished with a 70.8-plus PFF overall grade in all but one season (66.5 in 2021) and is coming off a year in which his 19.1% pressure rate trailed only Micah Parsons and Will Anderson Jr. for the top mark in the league.”

Clowney’s recent consistency could help the Carolina Panthers exceed what they did in 2025. Coming off of a playoff appearance, the Panthers could take another step forward if they sign the veteran.

 

 

 

DeonTay Smith is a journalist who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with a focus on the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Baltimore Ravens. A graduate from Methodist University, Smith also covers local news for the Panama City News Herald and hosts his own YouTube podcast. More about DeonTay Smith

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