The Carolina Panthers decided to try and initiate a new era by signing Frank Reich as the sixth head coach in the team’s history. The franchise is already boasting to have the best roster in the NFC South this season under Frank’s shadow and recently they attempted to bolster the potentially destructive roster once more by signing veteran outside linebacker Justin Houston.
After being drafted with a third-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2011 NFL Draft, Houston managed to show his worth almost instantly by leading the NFL with 22 sacks and recording a career-high 68 tackles in the process during the 2014 season, earning him the First-team All-Pro accolade as well as the Deacon Jones Award.
Justin Houston inks $7M contract with Panthers
Houston and the Panthers agreed to a one-year deal on Sunday and later ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed the deal is worth $7 million along with $6 million of guaranteed money.
Compensation update: Panthers gave edge rusher Justin Houston a one-year deal up to $7 million, that includes $6 million guaranteed. https://t.co/CtE9k1r8um
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 7, 2023
After finishing 7-10 in the last campaign of the NFL and getting tied for the sixth-worst with 35 sacks, Carolina’s general manager Scott Fitterer discussed the team’s thought of adding an edge rusher for their defensive scheme. Houston might not be in his prime and might not be able to play as explosively as he played in Kansas City, albeit his prolonged experience in the league might boost up the strength in Carolina’s roster.
Besides him, the Panthers brought back promising players like Marquis Haynes, Brian Burns, and Frankie Luvu in their squad to aim for a potential comeback after failing to appear in the playoffs in the past five seasons.
Justin Houston’s NFL career highlights
After being drafted by the Chiefs, Justin played eight seasons in Kansas City before joining the Indianapolis Colts for two years.
The 34-year-old later spent two years with the Baltimore Ravens before landing in Carolina. Despite the ongoing discussion about his diminishing performance, he recorded 9.5 sacks, a team-high, and 21 tackles ( seven for loss) with the Ravens in the 2022 season, marking him the first player in franchise history to record multiple sacks in three consecutive matches.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection recorded 506 tackles, 111.5 sacks along with 19 forced fumbles throughout his NFL career. Now it remains to be seen if the 12-year NFL veteran can once again bounce back to his earlier form and lead his team toward an upward trajectory in the upcoming season.
