Going into this offseason, one of the weakest spots on the Carolina Panthers’ depth chart sat right in the middle of its defense. And now, as we’re through the better part of the offseason, one of the weakest spots on the Carolina Panthers’ depth chart, well, still sits right in the middle of its defense.
But, according to Pro Football Focus, the team’s linebacking corps may not be as bad as we perceive. In fact, they might be on the cusp of the league’s very best.
PFF analyst Seth Galina recently ranked each of the NFL’s 32 linebacker units. Surprisingly, he squeezes the Panthers in at No. 11, and even suggests there’s more room to move up.
“This group could rank much higher by the end of next season. Shaq Thompson is a bona fide star, and he may be playing alongside a diamond-in-the-rough partner in Frankie Luvu,” Galina writes. “One of the five highest-graded linebackers last season in his first year with Carolina, Luvu is another ‘Demario Davis trajectory’ candidate.”
The leader of the group, Thompson, is coming off the most impactful season of his seven-year career. Despite missing three games due to plantar fasciitis, Thompson still notched 104 tackles while hitting career-highs in interceptions (two), quarterback hits (six) and passes defensed (five).
As for that diamond in the rough, Luvu is expected to have a much more featured role moving forward. The fifth-year backer—fresh off signing a two-year, $9 million extension—will help fill the void off the edge left behind by last season’s leading sack-getter in Haason Reddick.
Free agent additions Cory Littleton and Damien Wilson, the projected starter at middle linebacker, as well as fourth-round draft pick Brandon Smith also figure to factor in for a unit looking for a firmer identity in 2022.