The Carolina Panthers have pulled the plug on their Jadeveon Clowney experiment ultimately. After just one season, the three-time Pro Bowler is heading back to free agency. The Panthers signed the veteran defensive end to a two-year, $20 million deal last summer, but the team is already moving on.
At 32, Clowney played in 14 games during a rough campaign in Charlotte. While he flashed at times, the Panthers struggled as a unit, and new head coach Dave Canales is wasting no time reshaping the roster. That starts with moving on from Clowney and bringing in new blood on the defensive line.
Panthers Shift Focus After Tough NFL Season
The team has already taken steps to fill the void. Canales signed free agent Patrick Jones II and doubled down in the draft, selecting Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen to strengthen the edge. It’s quite evident that the Panthers are betting on youth and long-term upside over high-priced veterans.
Panthers release Jadeveon Clowney. (via @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/wQPXM6dAZq
— NFL (@NFL) May 8, 2025
Clowney’s release adds another twist to a career that’s been anything but predictable. The Houston Texans selected him first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, and since then, he’s made stops in Seattle, Tennessee, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Carolina. He impressed with the Ravens in 2023, racking up 9.5 sacks and taking down Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game. But success hasn’t translated into stability.
His exit from Cleveland in 2022 ended in controversy after he criticized the franchise for favoring Myles Garrett. “As a son and parent I want to fully apologize to anyone I offended, specifically Myles Garrett and his family,” Clowney said at the time. The Browns sent him home from practice and kept him inactive for their season finale.
Meanwhile, Carolina also announced that rookie running back Jonathon Brooks has landed on the physically unable to perform list. The team drafted him despite a torn ACL last year, and now he’ll continue his recovery.
Clowney’s release reflects a team trying to reset after a tough season. For the veteran pass rusher, it’s another chapter in a career full of big moments, short stays, and frequent change. Whether another team takes a shot on him remains to be seen, but for now, Carolina is looking forward with a new vision and a younger core.