Heartbreak in Carolina: Panthers on the brink of losing key defenders to a despised division rival.
The Carolina Panthers could be on the brink of losing one of their top defenders to a bitter division rival. Rumors are swirling about a potential trade involving the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an NFC South opponent. After the Panthers lost Brian Burns to the New York Giants in a sign-and-trade last offseason, their pass rush struggled, prompting them to sign Jadeveon Clowney. However, Clowney’s performance last season, with 46 tackles and 5.5 sacks, fell short of expectations, making his season somewhat disappointing.
Despite this, Clowney still holds value as a complementary player, which is why he is seen as a strong trade candidate this offseason. Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine identified Clowney as one of Carolina’s top trade assets, even suggesting an unconventional destination: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This would be particularly surprising, given the Panthers and Buccaneers share a fierce NFC South rivalry.
To add some context, Ballentine noted that Clowney could be a “logical cap casualty” for the Panthers, indicating that the Bucs might be interested only if Carolina decides to cut him. By releasing Clowney, the Panthers could save nearly $8 million, which would provide much-needed cap relief considering their current financial situation.
Though Clowney’s value might have been questioned after last season, he still posted a solid 73.4 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024. Moreover, just two seasons ago, he recorded 43 tackles and 9.5 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens, showing he can still contribute at a high level.
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