A couple of familiar faces are amongst the NFL’s best remaining free agents.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently named, and ranked, the top players who are still out on the open market. He included two former Carolina Panthers defenders—starting with cornerback Rasul Douglas, the No. 1 player on his list.
Bowen writes:
Douglas is a physical corner with the length to disrupt the ball and the willingness to set an edge against the run (five tackles for loss last season). He’s an easy fit in a zone system that allows him to reroute underneath and attack the ball from the outside third of the field. Douglas returned one of his five interceptions for a touchdown in 2023, and he had five pass breakups last season.
Douglas spent the 2020 campaign with the Panthers, recording 11 starts over 14 games. The eight-year veteran, who played for the Buffalo Bills in 2023 and 2024, may actually be a fit back in Carolina—where the cornerback depth behind starters Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson remains a weakness.
Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney also made Bowen’s cut, at No. 8.:
Clowney had 5.5 sacks in 2024 after posting a career-high 9.5 the previous season. With his straight-line speed and power, Clowney can still impact the pocket (35 pressures last season), and he can close the distance to the quarterback off stunts and loops. Going into his 12th year as a pro, he can be signed as a designated pass rusher in sub packages.
The former No. 1 overall pick and Rock Hill, S.C. native made it through just one season of the two-year, $20 million deal he signed with the Panthers in March of 2024. Despite tying for the team-lead in sacks this past season, Clowney was released by Carolina in May.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: 2 former Panthers listed amongst NFL’s top remaining free agents