Clowney’s future in Carolina has been a talking point this offseason, with the team engaging in trade talks before the draft. No deal was worked out during the event, but the Panthers added a pair of edge-rushers on Day 2. As a result, Clowney’s tenure remained far from certain. Now, the former No. 1 pick will face free agency yet again.
2025 marked the final year of Clowney’s deal, the most recent short-term accord in his journeyman NFL career. This release will generate $7.78M in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $6M, presuming it is not processed with a post-June 1 designation.
A Rock Hill, S.C., native and South Carolina alum, Clowney’s homecoming last spring set him up to handle a key role as the Panthers began the post-Brian Burns era along the edge. He started all 14 of his appearances, totaling 5.5 sacks along the way. Carolina will move forward without him in the fold, though, with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen on the books for the next four years.
The Panthers were widely expected to target a defender with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, and Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker were still on the board when they were on the clock. Instead, the team went the receiver route by drafting Tetairoa McMillan. That decision was based in part on Carolina’s view that Day 2 offered better options along the edge than at the WR spot. The team is certainly confident its new additions on defense will be able to make an impact right away, since efforts to land draft capital in return for Clowney have now ended.
The 32-year-old had one-and-done tenures with the Seahawks and Titans following his five years in Houston to begin his career. Clowney then spent two seasons in Cleveland, a stretch that included a downturn in production with only a pair of sacks in 2022.
He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign with the Ravens the following year, matching his career high with 9.5 sacks. Baltimore was interested in retaining him, and the Jets were in the market as well. In the end, Carolina’s two-year offer won out, although that has proved to only amount to a one-year commitment.
The Panthers ranked last in the NFL in scoring and total defense, and their 32 sacks placed the team 29th in the league. Improvement in that regard will be a key goal, but Clowney will not play a role in that effort. He will now join the likes of Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon as veteran edge-rushers still on the market.
