A number of Panthers defenders are pending free agents, a group headlined by edge rusher Brian Burns. The team has also received contributions from Frankie Luvu, though, and a new deal for the latter is on Carolina’s radar.

The multi-faceted linebacker has been with the Panthers since 2021 and has served as a full-time starter over the past two years. He has totaled 236 tackles, 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles over that span, providing value to Carolina’s defense. Talks on a new deal – which will no doubt be worth more than his two-year, $9MM pact which will expire in March – did not take place during the campaign.

Negotiations should be expected to pick up soon, however. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Carolina and Luvu’s camp are set to re-start contract talks. The Combine could represent a logical landmark for traction to be found, as is often the case with pending free agents. Luvu has expressed a desire to remain with the Panthers, with whom he has developed into an impact defender after beginning his career with the Jets primarily as a special teamer. Negotiations last offseason did not yield an agreement.

Continuing to occupy a hybrid role in 2023, the former UDFA again excelled in the pass rush department. His 90.1 PFF grade in that regard was a career high, and it could generate a lucrative market this offseason. Luvu is entering his age-28 season, so a multi-year deal at a considerable raise to his previous contract should not be out of the question from the Panthers or an outside team.

Carolina has stalwart Shaq Thompson under contract for one more year, but the 29-year-old’s future has come into question at times. Fellow veterans Kamu Grugier-Hill, Deion Jones and Tae Davis join Luvu as pending free agents. The linebacker spot could thus see a number of changes this offseason in Charlotte, but the latter’s stock will be worth watching when talks resume in the near future.

Frankie Luvu has established himself as a key member of the Panthers’ defense, showcasing a notable degree of versatility. 2023 marks the end of his current contract, but a new one does not appear to be in the works.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $9MM deal in 2022 to keep him in Carolina. That has proven to be a highly effective investment for the Panthers, given Luvu’s increased workload since that time. The team made it clear a diverse role would be in store for him, and a signficant uptick in production has come about as a result.

Luvu eclipsed 100 tackles for the first time in his career last season, and comfortably set a new career high in sacks with seven. The former Jets UDFA has had another strong campaign this year with 51 stops and 3.5 sacks. Luvu is PFF’s highest-rated middle linebacker in terms of pass rush grade, demonstrating his disruptive ability when lined up as an edge rusher. He is thus in line for a signficant raise on his next deal, but, in an interview with Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required), Luvu indicated no talks on an extension have taken place yet.

The Panthers will need to sort out their situation with sack leader Brian Burns in the coming months. The two-time Pro Bowler is set to see his rookie deal expire this offseason, and Carolina again rebuffed outside interest in a trade this past week. A franchise tag or long-term agreement will eat up much of Carolina’s available funds in 2024; the team is currently projected to sit mid-pack in terms of cap space for next year. A new deal for Luvu will also require a raise, but he is looking to remain in place beyond 2023.

“You know the part about the business,” Luvu told Person. “I might be here, I might be somewhere else. But I would love to be here in Charlotte… I love the environment. I love the culture. I love these coaches. But that’s the hard part about the business. I can’t control where I – if I – become a free agent, then I start having the control. But right now, I’m just gonna be where I’m at today, be where my feet are.”

With pass rushers Yetur Gross-Matos and Justin Houston on IR, Carolina could turn to Luvu on the edge more than as a middle linebacker down the stretch this season. However he is deployed, though, a continuation of his production through the first seven games will set him well in free agency for another Panthers re-up or a deal sending him elsewhere.

Linebacker Frankie Luvu has slowly built his name in the NFL. He’s worked his way from special teams back to the defensive side of the ball and, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic, Carolina will look to utilize Luvu as a linebacker on both the inside and the outside next season. 

After going undrafted in 2018, Luvu signed with the Jets. He probably sealed his spot on the roster with his special teams play, but Luvu found the field quite a bit as an undrafted rookie. Spending the season as a backup linebacker, Luvu compiled 22 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and 11 quarterback hits during his first year in the NFL. Although he was unable to record any stats in Week 17, New York rewarded him with his first career start.

After being relegated to more of a special teams role in his sophomore season, Luvu returned to more of a split role between defense and special teams in his third year, earning three starts following an injury to starter C.J. Mosley. Luvu’s stat sheet that year resembled his rookie season more than his second year as he continued to play more on defense.

Luvu’s hard work and production despite limited playing time didn’t go unnoticed. When he hit free agency that offseason, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer took a flier on Luvu despite his size lending doubt to where he might fit in defensive coordinator Phil Snow‘s defense. They decided they liked him as a linebacker and, of course, a core special-teamer.

Luvu spent the season as a backup behind starting linebackers Shaq Thompson, Jermaine Carter, and Haason Reddick, earning most of his snaps on special teams. He did earn four starts throughout the season in four games that either Thompson or Reddick sat out.

Once again, despite the limited playing time, Luvu filled out the stat sheet. During his first year in Carolina, Luvu totaled 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. He even added a blocked punt for good measure.

Thompson, a defensive captain for the Panthers, spoke highly of Luvu, saying, “He’s energetic. He’s a leader. He’s a big part of our defense. He’s one you can count on to make a play. He’s one you can count on off the field to be there for you.”

Carolina rewarded Luvu’s production and reliability with his first multi-year contract, a two-year, $9MM deal. Snow also plans on rewarding him with more opportunities in more positions on defense.

“He can create a lot of havoc by sending him in different areas,” Snow explained. “That’s his biggest asset, but Frankie’s made a lot of progress dropping (in coverage)…I think you’re gonna see a more all-around linebacker this fall from Frankie.”

The Panthers lost starters Carter and Reddick to free agency, but were able to reload with the free agent additions of veteran linebackers Damien Wilson and Cory Littleton. So Luvu will once again back up the starting three, this time composed of Thompson, Wilson, and Littleton, but his increased experience and production, combined with Snow’s desire to utilize him all over the field, should provide Luvu with more playing time and opportunities come September.