The Carolina Panthers flew under the radar and signed free agent outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney on Wednesday.
The team did not disclose terms but ESPN and NFL Network reported it’s a two-year deal worth $20 million and up to $24 million with incentives. Clowney fills a big void for a Panthers club that traded Pro Bowl pass rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants earlier this month and lost Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency.
The New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens were seen as the favorites to land Clowney, a three-time Pro Bowl pick.
Clowney, 31, racked up 9.5 sacks in 17 games (15 starts) last season for the Ravens. That matched his career high for sacks, accomplished in 2017.
The Panthers will be Clowney’s sixth team. He played his first five seasons with the Houston Texans, who selected him No. 1 overall in the 2014 draft.
He has 52.5 career sacks in 126 games (113 starts).
Clowney starred at South Carolina before embarking on his NFL career.
