Buccaneers' Christian Rozeboom: Lands in Tampa Bay
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Rozeboom agreed to terms on a contract with the Buccaneers on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rozeboom logged 15 regular-season appearances with the Panthers in 2025, totaling 122 total tackles (59 solo), including 2.0 sacks, three passes defensed, including one interception, and one forced fumble. The 29-year-old now looks set to slide into a starting role at inside linebacker alongside fellow free-agent signee Alex Anzalone, presumably relegating 2025 breakout SirVocea Dennis to a reserve gig.
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Lions' D.J. Wonnum: Links up with Lions
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Detroit is signing Wonnum to a one-year contract worth up to $6 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Wonnum spent the past two seasons with Carolina following four campaigns with the Vikings. He started 37 of his 39 regular-season games over the past three seasons, recording 15.0 sacks and 10 defensed passes. Wonnum could compete for a starting job with Detroit, though such a role isn't guaranteed.
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Panthers' Trevis Gipson: Back with Carolina
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Gipson and the Panthers agreed to terms on a contract Monday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Gipson signed with the Panthers in late October after being cut by the 49ers. He appeared in nine regular-season games for Carolina while playing on both defense and special teams, finishing with 12 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sack. Gipson will have an opportunity to earn an expanded role on defense for the 2026 season, though he'll likely see most of his snaps on special teams.
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Panthers' Nick Scott: Remaining in Carolina
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Scott is set to sign a one-year contract with the Panthers, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Scott started all 17 regular-season games for Carolina last year, recording a career-best 111 tackles along with three defensed passes (including an interception). He also played every defensive snap during the team's wild-card loss to the Rams and racked up nine stops. Scott should reprise his starting role at safety alongside Tre'von Moehrig in 2026.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Back with Carolina
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Cherelus and the Panthers agreed to terms on a contract Friday.
The 27-year-old has appeared in 27 regular-season games (six starts) for the Panthers over the last two seasons, recording 60 total tackles and one pass defensed. Following his new deal with Carolina, Cherelus is expected to operate as one of the team's top reserve inside linebackers during the 2026 season.
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Seahawks' D'Anthony Bell: Back with Seattle
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Bell signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks on Thursday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
The safety and special teamer suited up for 14 games with the Seahawks last year, seeing action on 252 special-teams snaps and 95 defensive snaps, though he ended the season with the Panthers. Bell made 15 tackles (six solo) for Seattle in 2025.
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Buccaneers' A'Shawn Robinson: Gets one-year deal with Tampa Bay
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Robinson and the Buccaneers agreed to terms on a one-year, $10 million contract Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Robinson was released by the Panthers on Tuesday, but it didn't take long for the veteran defensive end to find a new home, as he'll stay in the NFC South with the Buccaneers. He spent the last two years in Carolina and logged 65 tackles (21 solo), including 2.5 sacks, three pass defenses and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games in 2025. Robinson will join a Buccaneers defensive line that also includes Vita Vea, Elijah Roberts and Calijah Kancey.
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Panthers' Popo Aumavae: Waived by Carolina
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The Panthers waived Aumavae (Achilles) on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Aumavae spent the 2025 season on injured reserve with an Achilles tear and will now be waived after initially signing as an undrafted free agent in 2024. The defensive tackle has spent his NFL career thus far bouncing around the Panthers' reserve lists. Aumavae will become an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers.
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Panthers' Isaiah Simmons: Staying with Carolina
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The Panthers signed Simmons to a contract Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Simmons signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in late December, and the team seems to want to keep the former Clemson linebacker around. It is likely another one-year deal for Simmons, who was primarily a special-teams player down the stretch of the 2025 regular season. The 27-year-old played just one defensive snap last season, something that may change with a full offseason to immerse himself in the Panthers' defensive scheme.
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Panthers' A'Shawn Robinson: Released by Carolina
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The Panthers released Robinson on Tuesday.
Robinson had one year remaining on his contract, but his diminished production in 2025 is likely the reason he will be released early. The 30-year-old defensive tackle will now be able to seek a new contract once free agency starts Wednesday. Robinson is a durable, time-tested veteran who could strengthen the depth of many teams' interior defensive units.
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Panthers' LaBryan Ray: Inks new deal with Carolina
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Ray re-signed with the Panthers on Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
The 28-year-old from Alabama has operated in a depth role on the Panthers' defensive line over the last two seasons, tallying 54 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, across 29 regular-season appearances. He's expected to continue playing behind Derrick Brown, Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) and Bobby Brown during the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Thomas Incoom: Returning to Carolina
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Incoom re-signed with the Panthers on Tuesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Although Incoom played just 25 defensive snaps across the Panthers' 17 regular-season games in 2025, he led the team with 16 total tackles on special teams. Following his new deal, the Central Michigan product is expected to remain one of Carolina's most impactful special-team assets during the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Staying in Carolina
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Evans is set to sign a one-year deal with the Panthers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The 26-year-old corner appeared in 16 regular-season games for the Panthers last season, recording 12 total tackles while playing a key role on special teams (153 snaps). After re-signing with Carolina on Monday, Evans is expected to maintain a similar role ahead of the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Robert Rochell: Re-ups with Panthers
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Rochell re-signed with Carolina on a one-year contract Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rochell hasn't totaled more than 10 tackles in a season since his rookie year with the Rams in 2021, but he's solidified himself as a solid contributor on special teams. He contributed in such a role across four regular-season appearances with Carolina in 2025, in addition to two games with the Cowboys.
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Panthers' Patrick Jones: Fully cleared from back injury
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Panthers GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday that Jones (back) has been fully cleared after undergoing surgery during the season, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Signed to a two-year, $15 million deal last offseason following a breakout 2024 campaign with the Vikings, Jones appeared in just four regular-season games during his first season with Carolina. The outside linebacker will look to return to form in 2026 after he racked up a career-high 7.0 sacks across 15 regular-season games with Minnesota two seasons ago.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Tallies 32 stops in 2025
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Cherelus posted 32 tackles (14 solo) and a pass defended across 14 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Cherelus racked up a career-high 32 tackles despite missing three games due to injuries. The 26-year-old was most productive toward the end of the season after taking over as one of the Panthers' starting inside linebackers in December following Trevin Wallace's placement on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Cherelus is now set to become a free agent this offseason.
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Panthers' Tershawn Wharton: Logs career-high
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Wharton (hamstring) totaled 36 tackles (11 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and a pass defended across nine regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Wharton had one of his most productive seasons in 2025, as he tallied a career-high 36 points despite missing eight games, including the final four contests of the regular season due to a hamstring injury. While the 27-year-old managed to suit up for the wild-card loss to the Rams, he aggravated the injury during the game and will likely begin the offseason focused on getting healthy.
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Panthers' Lathan Ransom: Productive during rookie campaign
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Ransom posted 51 tackles (21 solo), including 1.0 sacks, an interception, two passes defended and a forced fumble across 16 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Ransom was productive during his rookie campaign, racking up over 50 total tackles while seeing playing time on both defense and special teams. With Tre'von Moehrig under contract with the Panthers for two more years, Ransom will likely continue to serve as a backup safety during the 2026 campaign.
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Panthers' Chau Smith-Wade: Logs 56 tackles in 2025
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Smith-Wade tallied 56 tackles (43 solo), an interception and two passes defender across 16 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Smith-Wade saw increased playing time on defense during his second season, and he ended up recording a career-high 56 tackles while serving as the Panthers' starting slot cornerback. The 23-year-old also managed to score his first NFL touchdown, as he ran back a Michael Penix interception for six points during their Week 3 win over the Falcons.
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Panthers' Patrick Jones: Recovering from surgery
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Jones (back) is recovering well from his herniated disk surgery and could have returned to the field this season if the Panthers had made a deeper playoff run, Mike Kaye reports.
Jones has been on injured reserve since the Panthers' Week 6 win over the Cowboys. The linebacker said he felt, "like I was getting real close" to an end-of-season return. Now that the Panthers have been eliminated from Super Bowl contention, Jones will have a full offseason to work back from his back injury and be ready for the 2026 season.
