No Luke Kuechly leaves Panthers hurting at linebacker. Analyzing Carolina’s options
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Luke Kuechly retires
Expanded coverage of Kuechly’s decision
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There’s no replacing Luke Kuechly.
The Panthers won’t find a player who fits exactly into the spot he is leaving behind, on or off the field. When looking at what the team will do next at linebacker, that is important to remember from the start. There will be no easy fix. Hall of Fame linebackers aren’t just walking around, and even if a good replacement is found through the NFL Draft, no rookie will be able to match Kuechly’s skill right away.
Knowing that, we’re going to take a look at what the linebacker situation looks this offseason and the effect of Kuechly moving on will have for Carolina on the field. We’ll look more specifically at edge rushers later in the offseason.
Just over a month ago, the team’s biggest offseason question at the position would be if Shaq Thompson would return or test free agency. However, general manager Marty Hurney took care of that before the season ended, giving Thompson a four-year extension worth $54.2 million. The contract gives Thompson a higher per-year salary average, $13.6 million, than Kuechly received in his latest extension in 2015 ($12.4 million).
Outside of Thompson, the Panthers have mostly just young talent left at the position with the team parting ways with Thomas Davis last offseason. Kuechly’s decision will play a large role in what they do in the draft this year.
WHAT WENT RIGHT IN 2019
The Panthers’ defense had issues all across the board for a variety of reasons. The shift to a more hybrid defense didn’t work out the way they’d hoped, in part because Kuechly was asked to do too much.
However, Kuechly put together a solid year, leading the team in tackles again (144) and with Thompson finishing with the third-most on the team (109) despite missing the last two games of the season due to injury.
Kuechly was the biggest strength for the linebacker group thanks to his consistency. There weren’t as many explosive plays as in years past, but he remained a dependable presence in the middle of the field while being responsible for defending a lot of ground.
The other strength? This was a prove-it year for Thompson. He needed to show that he could be one of the team’s starting linebackers for the future and try to fill in Davis’ shoes the best he could. And he lived up to the task. In his fifth season, the linebacker set career highs in many categories, including tackles for loss, finishing with five more than in any previous year (11).
He also got more playing time than he previously had in his career with Davis leaving. Thompson played 99.1 percent of defensive snaps after having never before played more than 75 percent.
WHAT WENT WRONG IN 2019
The issues this past season came from Thompson not playing to his strengths. When the Panthers were in their previous defensive scheme and had Davis on the squad, Thompson played outside linebacker and big nickel. In the 3-4 look, he was an inside linebacker. That’s not where he has excelled the most.
Missed tackles were an issue for the defense as well this year with Thompson accounting for 12, according to Pro Football Focus, tied for 24th-most among NFL linebackers.
There were a lot of other moving parts that played a role in the defense’s lack of success this year that we’ll look at later in the offseason. A glaring issue for the linebackers this year was not playing in a scheme (3-4) that best fit the personnel. They also weren’t as fast or making as many explosive plays as in years past. Depth at the position was, and continues to be, an issue as well.
Under contract (5)*
(The Panthers will have $11.8 million in dead cap with Kuechly’s retirement.)
Shaq Thompson* (Signed four-year, $54.2M extension in December)
Now that Kuechly is gone and Thompson has his shiny new contract, this will be the year that he will need to step up as a leader on and off the field. Thompson will play an important role in how the defense performs in 2020.
Jermaine Carter (Third year of four-year, $2.7M contract)
Carter filled in for Thompson in the last two games of the year and has been an important special teams contributor, including recovering an onside kick. But he’s still unproven as a linebacker and has a big test ahead.
Andre Smith (Third year of four-year, $2.5M contract)
Smith is another backup linebacker who has almost entirely played special teams. The former UNC player has had mixed performances in the preseason and, like Carter, is unproven.
Jordan Kunaszyk (Second year of three-year, $1.8M contract)
After going undrafted out of Cal, Kunaszyk was also a key special teams player for the Panthers in 2019 and did enough to earn a roster spot, but only played seven defensive snaps. He will likely continue to mostly be a special teams contributor next season.
The Panthers also signed LB Sione Teuhema to a reserve future contract and he will be on the roster in March.
*Denotes 2019 starter
Offseason needs
Remember that Kuechly-sized hole? Someone has to attempt to fill some of it. The Panthers need a middle linebacker and there isn’t a candidate on the team who appears ready to be a starter for Week 1. This is a position that will need to be addressed in free agency and/or through the draft.
A name that will now be associated with the Panthers throughout the draft process will be Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons. Most mock drafts have him going in the top 10 and the seventh overall pick would be a great place to select him. Simmons is a versatile player who lined up all over the field, including more than 100 snaps each at defensive line, in the box, slot cornerback and deep safety. He is athletic and the 6-foot-4, 230-pound converted safety could be a great fit with the Panthers in their likely turn to more of a 3-3-5 scheme under new coach Matt Rhule. He just might not be there when they pick.
Another draft prospect to keep an eye on is Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray.
If the Panthers want to turn to free agency instead, Rams linebacker Cory Littleton may be a good option. What Carolina is also losing in Kuechly is someone who can play in coverage as well if needed, something Littleton has shown an ability to do with 18 pass breakups and six interceptions over the past two years. But there aren’t a lot of great options at middle linebacker in free agency. The draft may be the way to go.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 12:06 PM.
