Carolina bolstered its pass rush by signing arguably the most effective remaining edge rusher available on the market, four-time Pro Bowler Justin Houston.
Houston performed the previous two seasons with the Ravens and in 29 video games (16 begins), he had 14 sacks. Prior to that, he spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Colts, the place he had 19 sacks in 32 begins.
Houston performed in Kansas City throughout the first eight years of his profession and had 78.5 sacks with the Chiefs, together with an NFL-high 22 sacks in 2014. His 111.5 profession sacks are fourth-most amongst lively gamers (Von Miller, Cameron Jordan, Chandler Jones).
For the Panthers, Houston is a dependable possibility who joins Brian Burns to kind a doubtlessly devastating pass-rush duo.
It’s a savvy transfer for Carolina, which might want to depend on its protection to compete for the NFC South crown. As proficient as rookie quarterback Bryce Young is, the Panthers cannot anticipate him to win many shootouts in his first 12 months.
Carolina’s greatest probability of being aggressive is its protection changing into a top-10 unit. The items have been already there earlier than the Houston signing.
Defensive sort out Derrick Brown was the seventh-ranked inside defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus in 2022. Burns’ 38 sacks from 2019-22 rank sixth amongst edge rushers during the last 4 seasons. Only Shaquil Barrett, Nick Bosa, Jordan, T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett have extra.
Linebackers Shaq Thompson and Frankie Luvu have been implausible in opposition to the run in 2022. And within the secondary, cornerback Jaycee Horn and safeties Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods and Jeremy Chinn give the Panthers proficient, versatile items to plug in for various formations.
As the protection transitions from a 4-3 unit to a 3-4 underneath defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Houston’s familiarity with the scheme ought to permit him to get on the sphere shortly and in addition assist Carolina’s younger edge rushers catch up to hurry.
It’s a win-win transfer for the Panthers. The solely factor left to find out is what number of wins it results in throughout the common season.
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