The Carolina Panthers were in dire need of bolstering their pass rush last offseason after the departure of Brian Burns, leading them to sign Jadeveon Clowney. Being a native of South Carolina, Clowney seemed like a fitting choice for the three-time Pro Bowl player, despite never being regarded as a dominant pass rusher throughout his NFL career.

In the 2024 season, Clowney delivered average performance for the Panthers, recording 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and only 11 quarterback hits over 14 games. At 32 years old, Clowney was largely seen as a potential cut candidate going into the offseason, having signed a two-year contract with the Panthers the previous spring. Nevertheless, Carolina has decided to retain Clowney for the time being.

A trade remains a possibility for the veteran, and Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggests that the Green Bay Packers could be an excellent destination for him. “The Packers could benefit from a true No. 1 receiver on offense, although it’s unlikely they will find one this late in the offseason. On defense, the edge rusher seems to be their most pressing need,” Knox wrote. “…

The cost for Clowney this offseason would probably be much lower than a first-round pick, allowing Green Bay to keep their top draft choice to potentially strengthen the position further.” At present, Clowney is probably worth no more than a Day 3 draft pick, and considering the Panthers still require pass-rushing assistance, it might be prudent for them to retain him for the 2025 season, especially since they could contend for the NFC South division title.

The Panthers will likely receive inquiries about Clowney as the NFL Draft approaches, and while trading him could result in financial savings, it might be wiser to keep him on the roster for now and reconsider trading him at the trade deadline if things do not pan out.