Panthers' $21 million move fans slammed is turning into a masterstroke
This looks like an outstanding addition so far.
Dan Morgan entered the second recruitment period of his master plan with one clear goal in mind. The Carolina Panthers needed to improve their defense, and this process began in the trenches.
Morgan adopted a ruthless mindset. This was imperative after watching Ejiro Evero's unit concede the most single-season points in NFL history and more than 3,000 rushing yards in 2024. After the Panthers gave the under-fire coordinator a reprieve, improving the personnel was critical.
The Panthers spared no expense to fix Evero's 3-4 defensive front in free agency. Morgan traded up twice on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft for Princely Umanmielen and Nic Scourton. That generated the lion's share of headlines, but another less heralded move is already proving to be a shrewd piece of business.
Bobby Brown III has made a strong start to life with the Carolina Panthers
When the Panthers signed veteran defensive lineman Bobby Brown III to a three-year, $21 million deal in free agency, fans were skeptical. He was coming off a career year with the Los Angeles Rams, but one had to wonder whether this was down to his talent or the innovative scheme implemented by defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
Brown was initially expected to become Carolina's starting nose tackle. That spot went to A'Shawn Robinson, which was somewhat surprising. Evero initially saw the 2021 fourth-round selection as a rotational 3-4 defensive end. However, injury problems around Tershawn Wharton left the Panthers with no option other than to thrust him into a prominent role.
He's answered the call. A lot of Brown's good work might not show up on the stat sheet. Still, he's disrupting plays with power and violent hands. He's pushing the pile on running plays and making things easier for others. Carolina's defensive front has been a huge positive through five weeks, and the Texas A&M product's contribution is a big reason why.
Whether Brown will go back to the fringes once Wharton gets healthy remains to be seen. Either way, this is a nice problem for Evero to have — one he didn't benefit from last season with a group of linemen who were devoid of confidence, consistency, or depth once Pro Bowler Derrick Brown suffered a knee injury just one game into the campaign.
Brown won't generate many headlines. Players in the trenches rarely do, but that does not detract from the exceptional impact he's made to Carolina's mini-defensive resurgence over the early stages of 2025.
Long may it continue.
Ja’Marr Chase Offers Concerning Prediction for Bengals-Steelers Game
We can debate Cincinnati Bengals superstar receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s place among the league’s top receivers, but what we can’t argue about is his knack for colorful language.
Chase remains a bright spot amid the Bengals’ four-game losing streak, and he snagged 10 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The four-time Pro Bowler boasts 42 catches, 468 yards, and four touchdowns despite missing Joe Burrow for much of the Bengals’ season.
However, Chase’s Bengals are fading fast in the AFC playoff race, and a Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers could derail their postseason hopes for good. The Steelers are already 4-1 and are the only AFC North team at or above .500.
“We know the Steelers are going to try to come in and raw dog us and kill us,” Chase admitted. “But we going to be ready for that challenge and we going to be waiting for it.”
At least Chase opted for a memorable, honest comment rather than offer a safe, PR-friendly response.
Ja’Marr Chase and the Bengals Are in Big Trouble
Very few teams can survive losing a quarterback of Burrow’s caliber, and the Bengals are no exception. Opponents have outscored the Bengals 140-55 during their losing streak, and Cincinnati benched quarterback Jake Browning after he threw eight interceptions in 124 attempts.
The fact that Chase remains well on pace for his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season is a testament to how special a player he truly is, though his latest impressive campaign appears destined to be forgotten. At 2-4 and with the Nov. 4 trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Bengals must decide soon if they’re going to stand firm or trade veteran players, including All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson.
Sources recently told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that they expect Hendrickson to be available within the coming weeks. Hendrickson, who had an extended hold-in before agreeing to a $14 million raise ahead of free agency, leads the Bengals with four sacks and three tackles for a loss.
Chase, meanwhile, will stay in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future. He signed a four-year, $161 million extension with $112 million in guaranteed money in March.
What’s Next for the Bengals?
WHAT A CATCH BY JA'MARR CHASE
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025
CINvsGB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/fsvj2I2BAT
We don’t disagree with Chase that the Steelers will arrive in Cincinnati looking to, shall we say, handle their business in a big way. Oddsmakers evidently feel the same way, with the FanDuel Sportsbook listing Cincinnati as early +5.5 underdogs (-104, meaning that a $100 bet would net a $196.15 payout) as of Monday morning.
Cincinnati’s current projected win total sits at 5.5 (-140, so a $100 bet results in a $171.43 payout), and Burrow’s indefinite absence doesn’t help. Although grizzled veteran Joe Flacco threw two touchdowns without a turnover, it’s hard to see the Bengals turning things around anytime soon.
But the AFC North is in awful shape, and the injury-ravaged Ravens and the transitioning Browns both dropped to 1-5 on Sunday. A win over the Steelers would put the Bengals at 3-4 entering their Oct. 26 showdown with the dreadful, winless New York Jets.
After that, anything is possible. But if there were a time for Chase and the Bengals to finally get things going, Thursday night would likely be their last opportunity.
