We have a new, but familiar name for the Carolina Panthers’ potential prowl for a pass-rushing presence.
Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report recently listed the best landing spots for a handful of the NFL’s top remaining free agents. Included in the bunch were Jadeveon Clowney and Yannick Ngakoue—two men who have been linked to Carolina a time or two this offseason.
But not this time.
Moton, instead, draws the Panthers to 34-year-old Justin Houston:
Houston can rush the passer in the even-man fronts with his hand in the dirt or from a two-point stance in an odd-man front. For most of his career, he’s played outside linebacker, though the versatile edge-rusher made his presence felt as a defensive end in former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ system, logging 19 sacks and 53 pressures between 2019 and 2020.
Not only did the former All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler play under Eberflus in that time, but he also played for new Panthers head coach Frank Reich. So, perhaps there’s a connection.
Oh, and don’t let the age fool you. Houston is coming off a productive 12th NFL campaign, one in which he posted 9.5 sacks—his most since 2019—for the Baltimore Ravens.
