CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers welcomed a quintet of new players on Wednesday at the start of the league year. The club announced they have officially agreed to terms with five free agents: Robert Hunt, Damien Lewis, A'Shawn Robinson, Josey Jewell and Dane Jackson.
They represent the first big moves the franchise is making under new general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales.
Hunt, 6-foot-6, 330-pound, was a second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2020 out of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Lewis was a third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2020 out of LSU, meaning he has experience with Canales. The 6-foot-2, 327-pounder started 61 games over four seasons for the Seahawks.
The 28-year-old Robinson entered the league as a second-round pick of the Lions in 2016, and has appeared in 110 games, with 74 starts.
Jewell has spent the past six seasons with Denver (giving him background with Ejiro Evero), during which time the 6-foot-2, 236-pound linebacker has accumulated 453 tackles (averaging 75.5 a season), seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions in his 78 game appearances.
Jackson started 28 games in four seasons with the Bills, pulling in three interceptions and a fumble recovery. His best individual season was 2022, when he started 14 games and had two picks.
With the start of the league year, the Panthers can now bring free agents into the building for physicals.
All five free agents are expected to be key contributors and likely starters this season. Hunt and Lewis will take over starting guard spots on the offensive line, with Hunt on the right side and Lewis on the left. With the signings, Austin Corbettis expected to move to center. The offensive line, specifically the interior, was a huge offseason focus for the Panthers, in an effort to provide more protection for second year quarterback Bryce Young.
"I think it's pretty evident that our offensive line struggled at times last year," Morgan said at the NFL Combine in February. "We've got to get better in that area, and we're going to do everything in our power to make that happen."
Robinson will play on the defensive line alongside Derrick Brown and Shy Tuttle, providing a force with a proven track record of breaking into the backfield, as well as pass breakups. Robinson will become the veteran in the unit as soon as he enters the locker room.
Jewell will help replace some of the void left by Frankie Luvu, who is now a member of the Washington Commanders after joining them in free agency.
Jackson has long been a guy that Morgan was familiar with. Morgan was with the Bills in 2020 as Director of Player Personnel when Buffalo drafted Jackson in the seventh round. Jackson will now come to Carolina as a possible starter in a unit that no longer has veteran Donte Jackson.
The five new faces will arrive in Charlotte over the course of the week and the coming weekend, kickstarting a new era in Carolina.
See the former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman in action.
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) looks to block during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. The Jaguars defeated The Dolphins 23-20. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (98) rushes against Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) during an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Miami Dolphins offensive guard Robert Hunt (68) during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Robert Hunt (68) warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) faces off against Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Broncos 70-20. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) gets pumped up before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
Miami Dolphins offensive linemen Austin Jackson (73), Robert Hunt (68) and Liam Eichenberg (74) set to block during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 21-14. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) reacts at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Robert Hunt (68) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) warms up before playing against the New York Jets in an NFL football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Miami Dolphins guard Robert Hunt (68) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) looks on during pre-game warm-ups before a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) in action during the first half of a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) sets himself during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct.16, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Menendez)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) helps block into the end zone during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeat the Bills 21-19. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) blocks during an NFL wild-card football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Robert Hunt (68) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, September 29, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Robert Hunt (68) runs onto the field as he is introduced to the fans before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
