Replacing Brian Burns: Panthers agree to terms with former Vikings pass rusher D.J. Wonnum
The Carolina Panthers have taken the first step toward rebuilding their edge rusher unit.
On Thursday, the Panthers announced that they had agreed to terms with former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher D.J. Wonnum.
The agreement is for a two-year deal, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer. According to The Athletic’s Joe Person, the deal is worth $12.5 million.
Wonnum, Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young visited the team Thursday, according to multiple reports. Wonnum eventually reached a deal to join the team in the wake of the Brian Burns trade from Monday.
The former South Carolina Gamecocks defender immediately becomes the top pass rusher on the defensive depth chart.
Burns, Yetur Gross-Matos and Frankie Luvu have all departed, and they made up 70.5% of the team’s total sacks in 2023. Wonnum will be counted on — for now — to lead an inexperienced group, which also features 2023 third-round pick DJ Johnson, 2022 sixth-round pick Amare Barno and second-year edge rusher Eku Leota.
Wonnum, 26, became a full-time starter for the Vikings last season, and he produced 8 sacks, 15 QB hits and 5 pass breakups within that prominent role. Panthers fans might also remember Wonnum from his Week 4 fumble-recovery touchdown at Bank of America Stadium last year.
The Panthers are betting on Wonnum’s youth and upside to pay off with consistent playing time. He fits the mold of the sub-30-year-old contributors that the Panthers have targeted in free agency.
Wonnum has 23 career sacks in four seasons. He has performed well as a situational pass rusher in both a 4-3 and a 3-4 front during his time in the league, and that versatility can help defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero disguise his unit’s approach on a play-to-play basis.
Wonnum, a 2020 fourth-round pick, forced 38 total pressures and had 32 stops last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He is likely to take up one of the starting spots for the Panthers at outside linebacker this year.
This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 12:00 AM.
