2024 Carolina Panthers Projected Finish, Key Signings & Fantasy Stars

Jadeveon Clowney (Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons)

In the fifth of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Carolina Panthers.

Key Off Season Acquisitions

The Panthers’s primary focus in the offseason was improving their defense and offensive line. In free agency they acquired guard Robert Hunt of Jasper, Texas to a five-year deal worth $100 million, and guard Damien Lewis of Canton, Mississippi to a four-year deal worth $53 million. Of the four key acquisitions on defense, three play defensive end. They are A’Shawn Robinson of Fort Worth, Texas (three years, $22.5 million), Jadeveon Clowney of Rock Hill, South Carolina (two years, $20 million), and D.J. Wonnum Jr. of Stone Mountain, Georgia (two years, $12.5 million). The other free agent acquisition was inside linebacker Josey Jewell of Decorah, Iowa (three years, $18.75 million).

When it came to trading, the Panthers acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson of Ruskin, Florida from the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a deal that saw Pittsburgh acquire cornerback Donte Jackson of New Orleans, Louisiana. The Steelers also got a sixth round pick (selected defensive tackle Logan Lee from University of Iowa), and the Panthers also got a seventh round pick (selected linebacker Michael Barrett from University of Michigan).

Hunt has played the last four seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Lewis has played the last four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

Robinson  is joining his fourth NFL team. He previously played four seasons with the Detroit Lions (2016 to 2019), three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2020 to 2022), and one season with the New York Giants (2023). In 2023 with the Giants, Robinson had 62 combined tackles (34 solo tackles and 28 assisted tackles), six tackles for a loss, one quarterback hit, and two pass deflections. He was also on the Rams team in 2022 that won the Super Bowl.

The Panthers will be the sixth National Football League franchise Clowney has played for following five seasons with the Houston Texans (2014 to 2018), one season with the Seattle Seahawks (2019), one season with the Tennessee Titans (2020), two seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2021 and 2022), and one season with the Baltimore Ravens (2023). This past season in Baltimore, Clowney, at three-time Pro Bowler and former first overall pick, had 43 combined tackles (24 solo tackles and 19 assisted tackles), nine tackles for a loss, 19 quarterback hits, 9.5 sacks, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Wonnum Jr. played the last four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2023, he had 62 combined tackles (33 solo tackles and 29 assisted), seven tackles for a loss, 15 quarterback hits, eight sacks, and six pass deflections. He also had one fumble recovery for 51 yards, which resulted in a touchdown. It came in a 21-13 Vikings win over the Panthers on October 1.

Jewell played the prior six seasons with the Denver Broncos. In 2024, Jewell had 108 combined tackles (60 solo tackles and 48 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries for 10 yards and three sacks.

Johnson was a Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Steelers in 2021. That year he had 107 catches for 1161 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. This past season, Johnson had 51 catches for 717 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

The Panthers have also hired Dave Canales of Harbor City, California as their new head coach. He was previously the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Fantasy Stars

There are no Panthers players ranked in the top 10 at any fantasy position.

Projected Finish

Carolina was the worst team in the NFL last year at two wins and 15 losses. They will be marginally better this season, but not significantly better. Expect a basement finish and a chance they could win six to seven games.