TODAY, 11:50am: Jewell’s three-year deal will officially be listed as an $18.75MM contract, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. Of that total, $8.125MM is guaranteed, a significant jump on the previously reported $7MM in guarantees. Jewell also earned a $7MM signing bonus.
Jewell will have base salaries of $1.125MM in 2024 (guaranteed), $4.235MM in 2025 ($2MM guaranteed), and $4.55MM in 2026. The linebacker can earn $2MM via annual playing time and playoff escalators, and he’ll have per-game roster bonuses of $45K in 2025 and $50K in 2026.
MARCH 12, 4:00pm: Seeing players on all three defensive levels depart since the legal tampering period began, the Panthers will add a scheme-familiar player for Ejiro Evero in the aftermath of those exits.
Josey Jewell is signing with the Panthers, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. A six-year Bronco who worked as a starter for much of that tenure, Jewell played under Evero during the 2022 season. While the Broncos held discussions with Jewell about a third contract, Sean Payton‘s team will move on.
The Panthers are giving Jewell a three-year deal worth more than $22MM, according to the Denver Post’s Troy Renck. Of that total, more than $7MM is guaranteed. Jewell will be tied to a $22.5MM deal in total, with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe adding $10MM is guaranteed.
The Broncos discussed terms with Jewell’s camp at the Combine, and the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson indicates the team did not give up on a re-signing until the end. But with the Broncos cutting costs, Jewell will join center Lloyd Cushenberry in leaving Colorado. This was the expectation in Denver, which has been much quieter on this year’s market compared to Payton’s first year running the show.
Denver used Jewell and Alex Singleton as its off-ball linebacker starters over the past two seasons; both were attached to veteran deals in 2023, with Jewell at $5.5MM. The AFC West team, in light of the Russell Wilson development, may be aiming to scale back. The Panthers, conversely, are building around a rookie quarterback. That will help Jewell secure more in guarantees compared to his 2022 Denver pact and a raise in AAV.
Jewell played well under Evero and Vance Joseph over the past two seasons, combining for 236 tackles and 5.5 sacks. The former fourth-round pick added four forced fumbles in that span, intercepting two passes and notching seven tackles for loss under Evero in 2022. Pro Football Focus graded Jewell 40th among LBs last season but 27th under Evero two years ago.
The Panthers moved on from Frankie Luvu, seeing him join Jeremy Chinn by committing to the Commanders. Shaq Thompson remains on the Panthers, but the veteran is coming off a season an injury cut short after two games. Plenty will be expected of Jewell, who will turn 30 before season’s end.
Solid linebacker. Not very fast, but a solid tackler who is reliably in the right spot and can force the occasional turnover. Jewell’s biggest asset may be his familiarity with Evero, however. Losing Luvu as a do-it-all and Thompson’s age will probably see Carolina needing another pick at the linebacker spot to shore up depth or net another starter on the second level. Jewell isn’t exactly young himself, and his lack of great speed will mean that a good succession plan should be a background concern for the future in Carolina.