The Carolina Panthers have reached an agreement to sign former Denver Broncos linebacker Joey Jewell to a three-year contract worth $22.75 million, as reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. This deal includes a $7 million signing bonus, with $10 million guaranteed at the time of signing.
According to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network, the Green Bay Packers showed interest in Jewell before he joined Carolina. Despite their recent acquisitions of safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs, along with re-signing cornerback Keisean Nixon, the Packers still view linebacker as a significant area of need.
As free agency progresses, many linebackers are quickly finding new teams. With Jewell off the market, only three top free-agent linebackers remain unsigned. Notable among them are Devin White, Bobby Wagner, and former Packer Krys Barnes. If Green Bay intends to bolster its linebacker corps, they’ll need to act swiftly given the diminishing pool of available talent.
The Packers’ shift to a 4-3 defensive scheme has left vacancies at linebacker, particularly following the departure of De’Vondre Campbell. While Quay Walker is seen as a long-term solution at the “Will” linebacker position, the roles of “Mike” and “Sam” remain open, although Isaiah McDuffie is expected to contribute in some capacity.
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