Panthers Weighing Jadeveon Clowney Trade as Rebuild Continues
After losing Brian Burns to the New York Giants in a sign-and-trade last offseason, the Carolina Panthers scrambled to fill the void in their pass rush. Their answer was bringing in South Carolina native Jadeveon Clowney, but after just one season, his future with the team is already in question.
Clowney, 31, had a solid but unspectacular debut with the Panthers, recording 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four passes defended in 14 games. While his 73.2 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus was respectable, it wasn’t enough to elevate a struggling Carolina defense. Now, with general manager Dan Morgan steering the team through a rebuild, Clowney could be on the move again.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine recently proposed a trade scenario that would send Clowney to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a fifth-round pick. While Baltimore would benefit from adding another proven pass rusher, such a low return could be a tough pill to swallow for Carolina.
“He bolted for Carolina in free agency, but his numbers took a hit, and the Panthers were still one of the worst teams in the league,” Ballentine wrote. “That could leave the soon-to-be 32-year-old on the outside looking in on Carolina’s rebuild plan under general manager Dan Morgan. The Ravens have 11 picks in the upcoming draft, so using one of those to add more pass-rushing firepower wouldn’t hurt.”
While Clowney has never been an elite sack artist—he’s never posted double-digit sacks in a season and hasn’t made a Pro Bowl since 2018—his presence still holds value. Given the two-year contract Carolina gave him, they may seek a return greater than a fifth-rounder.
If the Panthers do decide to move on from Clowney, they’ll need to ensure they get proper compensation. A mid-round pick might not be an exciting return, but if Carolina isn’t viewing him as a long-term piece, it could make sense to recoup draft capital while they can.
