After being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, veteran linebacker Devin White finds himself a free agent.
The two sides parting ways surprised many, as the former Pro-Bowler has put together several quality seasons since joining the league. Despite not playing a single snap for the Eagles this season, White should garner a fair amount of interest on the open market. One organization that should kick the tires on bringing in the 26-year-old is the Carolina Panthers.
Here are three reasons why the Panthers’ front office should consider bringing the talented veteran linebacker to Queen City.
Panthers’ linebacker corps decimated by injuries
For the Panthers, the injury bug has bit the team’s defense in a bad way.
Perhaps the hardest-hit position group on the roster is the linebackers. Veteran Shaq Thompson, a defensive captain and franchise cornerstone, suffered a torn Achilles during a Week 4 contest against the Joe Burrow-led Cincinnati Bengals.
On top of that, Panthers’ starting linebacker Josey Jewell also suffered hamstring and groin injuries that will keep him off the field for an unknown amount of time. Inserting a player like Devin White into the Panthers’ linebacker room could give the team a much-needed boost in a position of need.
Even if White doesn’t have the same impact on the game he had with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his skill set would be a welcome addition to a Panthers’ linebacker corps whose depth has worn thin.
The Panthers’ defense could use a solid veteran
In just his first career NFL start, Panthers’ rookie linebacker Trevin Wallace had a breakout game.
The University of Kentucky product finished the contest with 15 total tackles, with 10 of them being solo. Wallace’s big performance versus the Bears was one of the few bright spots for the team, giving Panthers’ fans a reason to stay positive. That said, the organization likely wants to put another proven starter next to the first-year man moving forward.
Adding a veteran like Devin White who’s spent nearly six years in the league could benefit Wallace. While he already told the media he has “zero” worries about being the leader of the Panthers’ defense, Wallace likely wouldn’t mind having a former Pro Bowl linebacker going to battle with him.
So far, the 2024 NFL Season has been cruel to the Panthers’ defense. The boys in Process Blue have lost leaders such as Shaq Thompson and Pro-Bowler Derrick Brown to injury, which has left the unit stripped of most of their veterans. Inserting a guy like White could help bring another veteran presence to the Panthers’ defense and potentially a morale booster for the position group.
White has played a lot of football and despite not taking a snap for the Philadelphia Eagles this season before the two sides parted ways, his experience would no doubt be a welcomed addition to the Panthers’ young linebacker room.
The Panthers’ coaching staff is familiar with White
Before being named the Panthers’ Head Coach, Dave Canales spent one season as the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers, where he got a first-hand look at Devin White up close.
While not actively coaching the defensive unit then, Canales, and many other offensive staff who’ve since joined the Panthers, likely had the chance to check out the former Pro Bowl linebacker’s game up close and personal. To this point, we haven’t ever heard the Panthers’ head coach speak on the veteran linebacker as a player.
But it’s certainly possible their Tampa Bay connection could sway him to push the Panthers’ front office to make the move.
The Bottom Line
After having the Buccaneers reject his fifth-year option this past off-season, White took his talents to the City of Brotherly Love, signing a one-year deal with the Eagles. Heading into Week 1, however, the 26-year-old couldn’t beat out Nakobe Dean for the starting job.
Moving forward, White will no doubt want to put some good football on tape. He’ll need to get on a roster and prove to teams that he can still perform at a high level. While it likely wouldn’t be more than a one-year “prove-it” deal, the Panthers could be a good landing spot for White.
In any case, he’s certainly a free agent the Panthers should kick the tires on considering their current injury woes.
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