Jadeveon Clowney Reportedly Released by Panthers, Updated 2025 NFL Salary Cap

The Carolina Panthers have moved on from outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney after being unable to find a trade partner for him.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Clowney has been released by the club.

Per Over the Cap, the Panthers will take on a $6 million dead cap charge and save $7.8 million against the 2025 cap. They entered Thursday with $16.3 million in cap space, so this move will bump them up to $24.1 million.

Clowney, who was heading into the second season of a two-year, $20 million contract, compiled 46 tackles, 11 quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks in 14 starts for Carolina last year.

There were murmurs Clowney could be traded during the 2024 season. Word emerged from The Athletic's Dianna Russini on Oct. 26 that Clowney might garner trade interest.

"Speaking of pass-rushers, I expect the Panthers' Jadeveon Clowney, the Packers' Preston Smith and a different Browns vet, Za'Darius Smith, to draw some interest before the deadline," Russini reported.

The Clowney trade interest wasn't a surprise for multiple reasons.

The Panthers are still in the process of building up their roster to become a contender after a 5-12 record last season. They seem to be heading on the right track after second-year quarterback Bryce Young showed promise at the end of 2024, but they still have a long way to go before becoming an NFC contender.

A trade would have allowed the Panthers to clear Clowney's contract off the books.

Clowney is productive and could help teams with playoff aspirations in 2025. He shined for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 with 43 tackles, 19 quarterback hits and 9.5 sacks. Clowney has also been known as a stout run defender on the edge over the years.

Panthers general manager Dan Morgan was noncommittal about Clowney's status when asked about it after the second day of the 2025 NFL draft.

"We're still working through the roster," Morgan said. "We're still talking through things. Obviously, we're focused on the draft right now and what's in front of us."

ESPN's David Newton reported that Panthers had talks about trading Clowney prior to the draft.

The 32-year-old Clowney, who is listed at 6'5" and 266 pounds, has played 11 NFL seasons. He was once a superstar collegiate prospect, and he went No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL draft to the Houston Texans. He's been on six NFL teams thus far: the Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Panthers.

Despite being a late addition to the free-agent market, Clowney could find a robust market given how teams are always looking to add pass-rush help.

For his career, Clowney has 58 sacks, 409 tackles and 139 quarterback hits. He's also made three Pro Bowls (2016-2018).