Carolina Panthers reach contract agreement with Rams free-agent defensive lineman
The Carolina Panthers have added another talented player to their defensive front in hopes of stopping the run.
The team agreed to terms Monday on a three-year contract worth $21 million with soon-to-be former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Bobby Brown III, a league source confirmed to The Observer. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the agreement.
Brown was added to the mix after the Panthers missed out on former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams, who was ultimately added by the New England Patriots, according to multiple reports.
The deal was made during the NFL’s open negotiation window. The contract can’t be made official until the start of the new league year when free agency starts in earnest on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Brown has a background with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero as well as new outside linebackers coach A.C. Carter. The latter served at Brown’s assistant defensive line coach with the Rams over the past two years.
The 24-year-old lineman, listed as 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds, is known for his run-stopping ability. That strength should help the Panthers as they look to turn around the league’s worst run defense.
Brown can be used in between Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown and Brown’s former Rams teammate, A’Shawn Robinson, at the nose tackle position. The new addition is a boulder of a lineman, and he will likely succeed Shy Tuttle within the starting lineup.
The Texas A&M alum, who was a fourth-round pick in 2021, could go a long way in improving the trench play in the front seven. He can anchor well and take on double teams, allowing the Robinson, Derrick Brown and the Panthers’ linebackers to make clean plays.
The big nose tackle joins safety Tre’von Moehrig and outside linebacker Patrick Jones II as a first-wave addition for the Panthers ahead of free agency.
This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM.
