A number of Panthers defenders are pending free agents, a group headlined by edge rusher Brian Burns. The team has also received contributions from Frankie Luvu, though, and a new deal for the latter is on Carolina’s radar.
The multi-faceted linebacker has been with the Panthers since 2021 and has served as a full-time starter over the past two years. He has totaled 236 tackles, 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles over that span, providing value to Carolina’s defense. Talks on a new deal – which will no doubt be worth more than his two-year, $9M pact which will expire in March – did not take place during the campaign.
Negotiations should be expected to pick up soon, however. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Carolina and Luvu’s camp are set to re-start contract talks. The combine could represent a logical landmark for traction to be found, as is often the case with pending free agents.
Luvu has expressed a desire to remain with the Panthers, with whom he has developed into an impact defender after beginning his career with the Jets primarily as a special teamer. Negotiations last offseason did not yield an agreement.
Continuing to occupy a hybrid role in 2023, the former UDFA again excelled in the pass rush department. His 90.1 PFF grade in that regard was a career high, and it could generate a lucrative market this offseason. Luvu is entering his age-28 season, so a multi-year deal at a considerable raise to his previous contract should not be out of the question from the Panthers or an outside team.
Carolina has stalwart Shaq Thompson under contract for one more year, but the 29-year-old’s future has come into question at times. Fellow veterans Kamu Grugier-Hill, Deion Jones and Tae Davis join Luvu as pending free agents. The linebacker spot could thus see a number of changes this offseason in Charlotte, but the latter’s stock will be worth watching when talks resume in the near future.
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