CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers bolstered their pass rush, agreeing to terms Wednesday with veteran free agent Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft.
Terms of the deal were not immediately released.
Clowney grew up in Rock Hill, S.C., about 20 minutes from where the Panthers play their home games.
The 31-year-old Clowney is coming off a strong season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, when he had 9 1/2 sacks. He will play outside linebacker in Carolina’s 3-4 defensive scheme. Clowney spent his first five years with the Houston Texans and has moved around quite a bit since with stops in Seattle, Tennessee, and Cleveland and Baltimore. He has 52 1/2 sacks during his career.
Clowney helps offset the loss of outside linebacker Brian Burns, who was traded to the New York Giants earlier this offseason. Carolina had a league-low 27 sacks last season.
Clowney is expected to be paired opposite pass rusher D.J. Wonnum, who signed earlier this offseason from the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers also have added free agent pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson.
The Panthers also announced they re-signed safety Sam Franklin, who led the team in special teams tackles the past two seasons.
