We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!
In this series, we’ll be counting down until opening kickoff by running through the Panthers roster by jersey number. Today’s piece looks at the current and historical players to have ever donned No. 94 for the Carolina Panthers.
Current Player: A’Shawn Robinson
Robinson (6’3”, 320 lbs) was originally drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. After becoming a valuable rotation piece and playing out his rookie contract, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams and eventually became a starter. After a few years in LA and a one year stint with the New York Giants, Robinson signed a three year $22.5 million contract with the Panthers including $10.375 million guaranteed.
With the injury to Derrick Brown and a severe lack of pass rush elsewhere on the Panthers defense, Robinson more than doubled his career high in sacks last season with 5.5. Before that, he had not registered a sack since 2021. He became one of the more reliable defenders for the team over the course of the year, though that is a bit like being the sanest person at one of my family reunions (not a high bar, to say the least). This year, the Panthers have surrounded Robinson with a myriad of talent around him, to say nothing of the return of Derrick Brown. With those additions, the Panthers hope that Robinson can truly thrive both against the run and rushing the passer.
Notable Previous Players to wear number 94: Efe Obada, Kony Ealy, Sione Fua, Kindal Moorehead, Sean Gilbert
All the way back in 2018, the Panthers were part of history when Efe Obada became the first player from the NFL’s International Players Pathway Program to make an active roster. He played relatively well for a rotational pass rusher, notching 7.5 sacks in his three years with the Panthers before joining other teams. Among the what-ifs of the 2015 Super Bowl is the flash in the pan that was Kony Ealy. Had the Panthers won, Ealy likely would have been the Super Bowl MVP with three sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. Sione Fua was a third round pick at nose who turned out to be replacement level, though there were high hopes for him and fellow 2011 third rounder Terrell McClain. Moorehead was taken by the Panthers in the fifth round in 2003 and became a rotational piece over five seasons with the team. Before him, the 94 was donned by the infamous Sean Gilbert. After bursting onto the scene with the Rams with 24 sacks in four seasons, Gilbert played one season in Washington before sitting out a year due to a contract dispute. Then, George Seifert decided to sign Gilbert away from Washington for a ton of money, which required the Panthers to give up two first round picks to Washington. Gilbert never came close to living up to his contract.