Patrick Jones II Heading To Panthers On Two-Year Deal
Free-agent defensive end Patrick Jones II (knee) has agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $20 million on Monday with the Carolina Panthers, a source tells FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Jones will stay in the NFC and head to the South with Carolina after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he collected 105 tackles (61 solo), 12 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits and a forced fumble in 57 games (five starts). The 26-year-old missed the final two games of the year due to a knee injury, but he still had a career year in 2024 with 39 tackles (19 solo), a career-best seven sacks, nine tackles for loss, 12 QB hits and a forced fumble in 15 regular-season games (one start). The former third-round pick should be healthy by the time training camp rolls around and figures to be a rotational pass-rusher for Carolina's new-look defense in 2025.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Pittsburgh edge rusher Patrick Jones II with the No. 90 overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft on Friday night. It's no surprise that the Vikings are focusing heavily on their defense in this year's draft after they were highly disappointing in 2020. Jones is a little on the small side (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) for an edge rusher, but he's very aggressive and has a really high motor. He'll need to improve his pass-rushing moves at the next level and his run defense. Jones is surprisingly strong for his size, too, and he'll give the Minnesota defensive line some valuable depth.
Pat Jones II
• OLB
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Panthers
