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Panthers Sign 19 Undrafted Free Agents

May 10th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Panthers have added the following 19 undrafted free agents to their rookie class:

Fitzgerald was thought to be a potential Day 3 pick after a stellar senior year at Florida State. He converted all 13 of his field goal tries with a 100% conversion rate that led all FBS kickers with at least 12 attempts. Fitzgerald was also perfect on his 14 extra points. He will compete with Matthew Wright for the Panthers’ kicking job in training camp.

Harrison-Hunte went undrafted despite a strong showing at the Combine. He’s an older prospect who will turn 25 by the start of his rookie year, but he had just one season of sustained production at SMU after five years at Miami. Still, he earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2024 with 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks and will push for a roster spot in Carolina as an athletic interior disruptor.

Hudson was a rotational target at Auburn in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to UCF, where he emerged as a starter over the last three years. He scored 19 touchdowns across 34 starts at UCF, but his lack of elite athleticism and ball skills will necessitate further improvements in route-running in the NFL. Hudson will compete with several young Panthers receivers for a roster spot this summer.

Kandra started 24 games at right guard for Cincinnati over the past two years with second-team All-American honors in both seasons and a team captaincy and a first-team All Big-12 nod in 2024. He is a strong, fast blocker with a brawler’s mentality in the trenches, but his lack of flexibility and agility will limit him in the NFL. His physical traits and experience will have him pushing for a roster spot, but he may have to develop center versatility to see playing time early in his career.

The Panthers were aggressive in bringing in some of these rookies who just slipped out of the draft. Two of the cornerbacks, Thornton and Reid, received increased guarantees on their deals to ensure they sign. Thornton’s contract included $150K in guaranteed money, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, while Reid’s deal contained $100K. George, the former Hurricanes receiver, was perhaps the most sought-after of Carolina’s signees. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tells us that he received $215K in guaranteed money to sign with the Panthers, which is more in guarantees than he would’ve received had he got drafted in the sixth round.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/25

May 9th, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor NFL transactions to close out the week:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): OL Valentin Senn

Atlanta Falcons

  • Received roster exemption (international player): K Lenny Krieg
  • Waived: DT Junior Aho

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): S Dante Barnett

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived (with failed physical designation): WR Jeff Foreman

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • Received roster exemption (international player): P Oscar Chapman

New York Jets

  • Received roster exemption (international player): G Leander Wiegand

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Dyson was cut from the team after news that running back Jonathon Brooks‘ placement on the physically unable to perform list would, in fact, still count him against the 90-man roster limit. They initially were told by the league that he would not count, but the updated guidance today necessitated that they lose a man.

Jackson joins Seattle’s undrafted free agent rookie class after they announced their 17 signees almost a week ago. A successful rookie minicamp tryout led to him securing a contract.

Similarly, Bentley, for whatever reason was also announced separately from the Colts’ UDFA class, even though the class was announced only a few hours before his signing. The 24-year-old hasn’t been a lead back since his 2020 season at SMU, but in three years apiece at SMU and Ole Miss, Bentley never averaged below five yards per carry in a season.

Panthers Sign WR Tetairoa McMillan, Five Other Draft Picks

May 9th, 2025 at 9:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Most of the Panthers’ draft class has been signed in advance of the team’s rookie minicamp. Six of the eight players selected during last month’s event have put pen to paper, per a team announcement.

The list of players now on the books includes Tetairoa McMillan. The No. 8 pick’s deal is four years in length, but like all first-round selections the fifth-year option will be in play for Carolina if the team wishes to keep him in place for 2029. Exercising the option would of course be a sign McMillan’s early years in the NFL have gone according to plan.

The Arizona product spent much of the pre-draft process viewed as the top receiver in the 2025 class (aside from two-way star Travis Hunter). Concerns about his top speed raised the possibility of a slide down the Day 1 order, but that did not prove to be the case. The Panthers – long thought to be targeting a defensive player with their top choice – took McMillan and by doing so added a first-round wideout for the second straight season under general manager Dan Morgan.

Quarterback Bryce Young advocated for the McMillan selection, one which should give him a sizable target early and often with the Panthers. McMillan totaled 2,721 yards and 18 touchdowns across the past two seasons, demonstrating his skillset as a contested catch specialist and red zone threat along the way. An All-American in 2024, he will be counted on to operate as a possession receiver for a Panthers team in need of improved play in the passing game moving forward.

Many expected Carolina to target an edge rusher at the No. 8 spot. Instead, the team waited to address that need on Day 2, preferring the depth amongst pass rushers compared to receivers in this year’s class. That resulted in the Panthers’ second- and third-round selections being used to help an edge rush group in need of increased production for 2025.

One of those new faces is third-rounder Princely Umanmielen. The Ole Miss product has inked his rookie deal, joining safety Lathan Ransom (fourth round, Ohio State), defensive tackle Cam Jackson (fifth round, Florida), tight end Mitchell Evans (fifth round, Notre Dame) and receiver Jimmy Horn (sixth round, Colorado) in that regard. Only two draftees – Nic Scourton and Trevor Etienne – are unsigned at this point.

Panthers Release Jadeveon Clowney

May 8th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ offseason roster cuts will include Jadeveon Clowney. The veteran pass rusher is being released, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The move is now official.

Clowney’s future in Carolina has been a talking point this offseason, with the team engaging in trade talks prior to the draft. No deal was worked out during the event, but the Panthers added a pair of edge rushers on Day 2. As a result, Clowney’s tenure remained far from certain. Now, the former No. 1 pick will face free agency yet again.

2025 marked the final year of Clowney’s deal, the most recent short-term accord in his journeyman NFL career. This release will generate $7.78MM in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $6MM presuming it is not processed with a post-June 1 designation.

A Rock Hill, SC native and South Carolina alum, Clowney’s homecoming last spring set him up to handle a key role as the Panthers began the post-Brian Burns era along the edge. He started all 14 of his appearances, totaling 5.5 sacks along the way. Carolina will move forward without him in the fold, though, with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen on the books for the next four years.

The Panthers were widely expected to target a defender with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, and Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker were still on the board when they were on the clock. Instead, the team went the receiver route by drafting Tetairoa McMillan. That decision was based in part on Carolina’s view that Day 2 offered better options along the edge than at the WR spot. The team is certainly confident its new additions on defense will be able to make an impact right away since efforts to land draft capital in return for Clowney have now ended.

The 32-year-old had one-and-done tenures with the Seahawks and Titans following his five years in Houston to begin his career. Clowney then spent two seasons in Cleveland, a stretch which included a downturn in production with only a pair of sacks in 2022. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign with the Ravens the following year, matching his career high with 9.5 sacks. Baltimore was interested in retaining him, and the Jets were in the market as well. In the end, Carolina’s two-year offer won out, although that has proven to only amount to a one-year commitment.

The Panthers ranked last in the NFL in scoring and total defense, and their 32 sacks placed the team 29th in the league. Improvement in that regard will be a key goal, but Clowney will not play a role in that effort. He will now join the likes of Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon as veteran edge rushers still on the market.

Panthers Place Jonathon Brooks On PUP List

May 8th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Among the many roster moves the Panthers made on Thursday was the decision to place Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform list. As a result, the second-year running back will miss the entire 2025 campaign.

Brooks’ college career ended due to an ACL tear. The injury delayed his NFL debut, and Brooks wound up making only three appearances as a rookie. The top running back in last year’s draft suffered another ACL tear in December, however, which cut short his season and led to questions about his 2025 availability. Now, his attention will turn to a lengthy rehab timeline.

By January, Brooks had undergone surgery on his right knee, the same one affected by his previous ACL tear. The timing of that procedure left the door open to a return late in the 2025 season, but that is no longer the case. The 21-year-old – whose rookie contract runs through 2027 – will look to return to full health by next fall in a bid to live up to expectations in Carolina.

In the meantime, the Panthers will move forward with a backfield which will likely once again be led by Chuba Hubbard. The 25-year-old Canadian enjoyed a career year last season and he earned a four-year extension along the way. Hubbard can be expected to reprise his role as Carolina’s top running back as the team looks to take a needed step forward in the passing game in 2025. Free agent addition Rico Dowdle (who parlayed his one and only year as a Cowboys starter into a 1,000-yard campaign) is also in the mix.

The Panthers also made an addition at the RB spot during the draft. Trevor Etienne was selected in the fourth round, and he could provide depth contributions as a rookie with Brooks out of the picture for this season. The latter enjoyed a successful final year at Texas, topping 1,400 scrimmage yards and scoring 11 total touchdowns. That helped make him a second-round pick, but to date things have not gone according to plan at the pro level.

While efficiency through the air was an issue for Carolina in 2024, the team finished mid-pack in rushing production. Brooks could have been counted on to play a role in duplicating or improving upon that mark late this season, but that will no longer be the case.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/25

May 8th, 2025 at 9:23pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Waived (failed physical): LB Jimmy Ciarlo, WR Marcus Riley
  • Waived: WR Easop Winston

Granger is a former Division I basketball player attempting to convert to tight end under the tutelage of George Fant, who also played D-I basketball before embarking on his NFL career. A hamstring injury led to his release, according to ESPN’s David Newton.

Panthers DT Derrick Brown Aiming For Week 1 Return

May 5th, 2025 at 12:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers were without Derrick Brown for essentially the entire 2024 campaign. If the Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s rehab continues as planned, though, a full slate in 2025 should be possible.

A Week 1 meniscus tear led to surgery (in the form of a full repair) and began a lengthy rehab process for Brown after his season consisted of just 60 defensive snaps. Progress has been been made since then, however. During his most recent public comments on the matter, Brown stated his intention of being back to full strength in time for Week 1.

“I’m doing what the doctors and trainers are allowing me to do at this point,” Brown said, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “No rush, just trying to get back. I would like to be able to be there when the team gets ready to play in September.”

Plenty of time remains for that goal to be reached, although Brown could be a candidate to open training camp on the PUP list depending on how quickly his recovery goes. A cautious approach on Carolina’s part would certainly be reasonable based on the former No. 7 pick’s importance to the team. Brown has operated as a full-time starter since his arrival, and he produced a 103-tackle campaign in 2023.

That helped the 27-year-old land a $96MM extension last offseason. Brown is one of several defensive tackles who has landed a big-ticket deal in recent years, although his production against the pass does not match up with some of his peers. Still, his loss was acutely felt as the Panthers struggled mightily on defense in 2024, and a return to full health will be key for the group moving forward.

Carolina has made a number of moves along the defensive interior this offseason, signing Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown in free agency. The team also brought in a rookie in the form of fifth-rounder Cam Jackson. Brown will be counted on to reprise his role as an anchor of the unit (which also includes veteran Shy Tuttle) once he returns to action. If things go according to plan, that will include taking part in the Panthers’ season opener.

Ikem Ekwonu Aiming For Panthers Extension

May 3rd, 2025 at 8:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Ikem Ekwonu will remain with the Panthers for at least the next two seasons given the team’s recent decision on his fifth-year option. If Carolina’s left tackle starter has his way, though, he will stay in place beyond 2026.

Ekwonu took on starting duties as a rookie and he has manned the blindside for each of his three years in the league. He will finish his rookie pact in 2025, and the Panthers’ decision to pick up his option has him in line to receive $17.65MM the following year. A long-term pact could be in place by that point, something the 24-year-old would welcome.

“I have no timeline, honestly,” Ekwonu said of a potential extension (via the team’s website). “I’ll let my agent and [general manager] Dan [Morgan] and everybody kind of figure that out for themselves. “But I mean, obviously, all parties know, all parties involved know I want to be here in Carolina long term. Hopefully, we can get that done.”

Pass protection has been a sore spot for Ekwonu, and continued development in that regard will be key if he is to become a long-term mainstay up front. The NC State product’s run blocking has proven to be a strength as expected, however. A commitment beyond the intermediate term was mentioned by Morgan as something on the Panthers’ radar when the option decision was announced, so it will be interesting to see when extension negotiations take place.

Carolina has longtime right tackle Taylor Moton in place for 2025, the final year of his contract. The team’s center spot is also uncertain beyond the coming campaign with Austin Corbett being re-signed this spring and Cade Mays inking his RFA tender. At guard, by contrast, the Panthers’ plans are clear with 2024 free agent additions Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis still in the fold.

A total of 15 offensive tackles are currently attached to a deal averaging at least $20MM per year. Ekwonu has not done enough to warrant a commitment near the top of the market so far, and it would come as no surprise if the Panthers waited before engaging in contract talks. Considering a mutual interest exists on the extension front, though, this situation will be worth watching.

2025 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

May 3rd, 2025 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is every team’s haul from the 2025 NFL Draft:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Read more

Panthers WR Adam Thielen Could Retire Following 2025 Season

May 2nd, 2025 at 4:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

The second chapter of Adam Thielen‘s NFL career has seen him operate as a key part of the Panthers’ offense. The veteran wideout will remain in Carolina for 2025, but that could be followed by a retirement decision next spring.

“It could be, yeah,” Thielen said when speaking to the media about the possibility of 2025 being his final season in the league (video link via The Athletic’s Joe Person). “I told you guys at the end of the season, like every year, you look back and you say what left do I have to give to this game? I talked to my family, and they wanted me to keep playing. So it’ll be the same process. I’m not gonna think about that right now.”

Indeed, the two-time Pro Bowler said in February he gave thought to hanging up his cleats. His latest comments thus come as no surprise. For now, though, Thielen – who will turn 35 in August – will turn his attention to a third campaign with the Panthers. Upon receiving a pay bump in March, he remains a pending 2026 free agent.

A former Vikings UDFA, Thielen enjoyed a strong run in Minnesota with a pair of campaigns over 1,200 yards. He was the focal point of a Panthers offense lacking in skill-position options in 2023 when he amassed 103 receptions (the second most of his career). The Minnesota State product was limited to 10 games last year, but he still managed five touchdowns while averaging 12.8 yards per catch.

Carolina has selected a receiver during the first round of each of the past two drafts. General manager Dan Morgan‘s first two years at the helm have produced Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan at that position. Legette will look to take a step forward compared to his production from his rookie campaign, while McMillan can be expected to handle a large workload early in his career. Thielen will remain a key member of the group as Carolina looks to build off the momentum seen on offense to close out last season.

Doing so could see the Panthers reach the postseason, something Thielen has done on four occasions in his career. Regardless of if that takes place, though, 2025 could represent his final NFL campaign.

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