The Pulse: a look at the Panthers pressure rates
If you watched the Panthers weekly, you probably know these numbers aren't great.
At its core, football is a simple game.
It has complexities like any other sport.
But like anything else in life, it always goes back to the fundamentals.
Advanced statistics, trick plays and complex schemes are fine and dandy. None of those things matter if your team cannot kick ass in the trenches.
The Seattle Seahawks reminded everybody of that in Super Bowl LX on Sunday as they made Drake Maye’s life a living hell for three hours.
The Philadelphia Eagles did the same to Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX. You can find other examples in other Super Bowls as well.
Here’s how the Panthers ranked in several key pressure statistics per FTN’s Stats Hub:
Pressures: 32nd (121)
The New York Jets were 31st with 137 pressures.
Pressure rate: 32nd (21.4 percent) - 32nd.
The San Francisco 49ers were 31st at 22.6 percent.
Sacks: Tied for 30th (30)
Clean Pocket Throw Percentage: 32nd (78.6 percent).
QB hits: 32nd (53).
Needless to say those numbers have to be pumped up. For the Carolina Panthers, President of Football Operations/General Manager Dan Morgan knows he has to acquire more talent to improve the Panthers pass rush.
The good news is that the Panthers invested draft capital into edge players Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in the second and third rounds in 2025. Both made contributions as rookies and Scourton had five of the Panthers 30 sacks.
Progression isn’t always linear but the Panthers have to be excited about the potential improvement they show in year two.
The Panthers have stalwart Derrick Brown at defensive tackle. They added Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton in free agency last March. Cam Jackson was drafted in the fifth round but did not play much as a rookie given what the Panthers had in the room.
The question is what method will the Panthers decide to use to add to the room. Will they utilize the draft, free agency or by trade? Will they add via all three?
Some of the top options in free agency are over 30, such as Trey Hendrickson.
Picking at No. 19 in the draft means the Panthers likely won’t be in a position to take the best edge prospects. Could they trade up? Sure. But it’s hard to envision this organization trading future assets for one player. They don’t want to part ways with draft picks.
Maxx Crosby was not happy how the Raiders deactivated him at the end of the year and reportedly wants out. Crosby is a beast but this too would cost the Panthers future draft capital.
Every team wants players that can get after the quarterback and make their life miserable every Sunday. The Panthers are no different.