CHARLOTTE — The Panthers didn't have to look far from home for their next starter at outside linebacker.
The team agreed to terms with former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney on Wednesday to bolster their pass rush.
The 31-year-old native of Rock Hill S.C. would become the second South Pointe High product to play here after his former Stallions teammate Stephon Gilmore was with the team in 2021.
Clowney turned in one of his best seasons last year with the Ravens, recording 9.5 sacks.
He spent his first five years with the Texans after he was chosen first in the 2014 draft, and has also played for Seattle, Tennessee, and Cleveland before spending last year with Baltimore.
He's been known as a big hitter since his days at South Carolina, and he adds to a defense that's without Brian Burns (traded) and Yetur Gross-Matos (signed with San Francisco in free agency). The Panthers had a league-low 27 sacks last year, and only 2.5 of them were from players still on the roster (Derrick Brown with 2.0 and Shy Tuttle with 0.5).
The Panthers have signed D.J. Wonnum and K'Lavon Chaisson already in a busy free agency period, but adding Clowney provides a proven pass-rusher which they needed, and gives them a pair of guys with recent production. It also keeps them from being locked into drafting a particular position at 33 and 39, since they have solid starters.
The Ejiro Evero defense works best when it has two legitimate rushers outside, and Wonnum (8.0 sacks last year) and Clowney (9.5) give them a solid pair, and allows the team some flexibility heading into the draft.
See the latest Panthers pass rusher through the different stops in his career.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (24) in action during the second half of an NFL football AFC divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (99) lines up against the Buffalo Bills in the first half of an NFL football game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (99) plays against Houston Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (78) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (99) in action against Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O'Neill (75) in the first quarter during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David Berding)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) runs off of the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (99), left, and Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) in action in the second quarter during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Titans defeated the Vikings 31-30. (AP Photo/David Berding)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, left, sacks Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) pressures Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) as he throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) runs during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, January 01, 2023 in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Cleveland Browns' Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) rushes Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns' Jadeveon Clowney during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud avoids a sack by Baltimore Ravens' Jadeveon Clowney during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) celebrates a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (24) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (24) in action during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Ravens defeated the Jaguars 23-7. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (24) pressures Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half of an AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
FILE - Cleveland Browns linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) tackles Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) for no gain during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland. Clowney has agreed to a contract with the Ravens, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, because the deal hadn't been announced. (AP Photo/David Richard, FIle)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (24) runs for the play during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Trey Pipkins III (79) blocks Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
