Panthers’ $15M Signing Already at Risk After Draft Day Shake-Up
It hasn’t taken long for things to get uncomfortable in Carolina. Just weeks after inking a two-year, $15 million deal, edge rusher Patrick Jones II is suddenly in a precarious spot—thanks to a bold draft-day strategy by Panthers GM Dan Morgan.
Morgan made it clear: this offseason is about transformation, not comfort. That message rang loud and clear during the 2025 NFL Draft, when the Panthers traded up twice on Day 2 to snag not one, but two high-upside edge rushers—Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen—after using their first-round pick on WR Tetairoa McMillan. The message? The pressure is on, and no job is safe.
Jones, a former third-rounder out of Pittsburgh, was brought in from the Vikings to inject energy and depth into a pass rush that lacked bite last season. Carolina invested heavily in him, guaranteeing over $10 million to secure his services. But the edge room is suddenly stacked. With veterans like Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum already in place, the additions of Scourton and Umanmielen mean competition just skyrocketed.
Sure, Jones will still see the field—but for how long and in what role? If the rookies prove they’re NFL-ready during training camp, Jones could quickly find himself sliding down the depth chart. And that’s not the only ripple effect. Even Clowney, a veteran on the final year of his deal, may now be viewed as expendable.
Jones had a breakout season in Minnesota, but some analysts wonder if his success was more a product of Brian Flores’ aggressive scheme than individual dominance. Panthers DC Ejiro Evero will want more than just system production—he’ll want playmakers. That gives the rookies a real shot to leapfrog the veteran if they shine early.
Make no mistake—Carolina now has an embarrassment of riches at edge rusher, and that’s a good problem to have. But it also means someone’s getting left out. Whether it’s Clowney, Jones, or both, the pressure is real. The Panthers want to make noise in the NFC South, and Morgan is showing he’s willing to shake things up to get there.
Buckle up—training camp just got a lot more interesting in Carolina.