By Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports

The Carolina Panthers are adding a former number one overall pick to its defense this offseason: pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney is coming to Charlotte, the team announced on Wednesday. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport is reporting it’s a 2-year, $20 million deal for Clowney, with a max value of $24 million.

It’s a bit of a homecoming for Clowney as well, the 31-year-old is a Rock Hill, South Carolina native, playing at South Pointe High School. Clowney played last season with the Baltimore Ravens, racking up 43 tackles and 9.5 sacks on one of the best defenses in the NFL. For comparison, the Panthers finished last in the NFL with 27 sacks las year. Players still on the roster contributed just 2.5 of them.

Clowney has spent most of his career playing on the outside of the defensive line or as a pass-rushing specialist at outside linebacker. In defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero scheme, he’ll play outside linebacker, most likely a starter this season. He’ll partner with another outside linebacker the Panthers added in free agency, former Minnesota Viking D.J. Wonnum. The 26-year-old had eight sacks last season before tearing his left quadriceps toward the end of the year.

Clowney played college ball at South Carolina, where he was a star known for hard hits and big plays, before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans in 2014. He played five season in Houston before joining the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. Since then, he’s served as a jolt to a variety of teams pass rushing, playing alongside Myles Garrett in Cleveland and having one of this better seasons with the Ravens on a one-year deal for the 2023 season.

The three-time Pro Bowler has 52.5 career sacks.

Source: wralsportsfan.com