With the player additions mostly finalized for this offseason, many fans are curious where the Panthers stand in terms of cap space and distribution. In this series, we’ll take a look at just how much the Panthers have tied up in specific position groups over the next couple of seasons, what contracts could be terminated or extended, and what percentage of the cap each group takes up. For this series, I’ll be using the numbers at Over the Cap. Next on our list, the linebackers!
On the Books
Off-ball linebackers
are not a well-paid position group overall right now in the NFL. Anyone not named Roquan Smith ($32 million cap hit this year) doesn’t eclipse the $20 million mark, and that includes the Panthers’ own big name signing Devin Lloyd. Through some Brandt Tillis wizardry, Lloyd’s cap hit is only $6.8 million this season. Trevin Wallace is likely on the inside track to start opposite Lloyd this year, and he is entering the third year of his rookie contract at about $1.6 million. Isaiah Simmons was brought back on a largely unguaranteed one year deal worth up to $1.26 million. Claudin Cherelus at $1.3 million, Jackson Kuwatch ($925k), and Bam Martin-Scott ($1 million) round out the more notable members of the linebacking corps.
Next Year
Devin Lloyd’s cap hit jumps up to $17 million next season and cutting or trading him would be a net negative against the cap. Trevin Wallace enters a make-or-break year because next year he would count $1.9 million against the cap, but the team could save $1.6 million of that by cutting him. Kuwatch will be around $1.1 million if he’s still on the roster. The rest of the linebackers will be free agents next year, so the Panthers will have to make some moves at least for depth at the position.
Measuring Up
The Ravens lead the NFL in cap percentage spent on linebackers (10.86%), largely due to that aforementioned Roquan Smith contract. The next highest is the Washington Commanders at 9.8%. Thanks to the low hit on Lloyd’s first year, the Panthers are currently 27th in the league in linebacker spending at just 2.25% of the cap allocated to the position. Tied at the bottom of the league are the Los Angeles Chargers and Tampa Bay Bucs at a mere 0.47%.
