The Carolina Panthers have just one more preseason game to go before they turn full attention to the regular season.
Most of the roster spots are accounted for by this point, but there are definitely some areas of concern. The starting linebacker spot next to Devin Lloyd is definitely the biggest concern, as Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus are fighting for the job.
The problem is, neither Wallace nor Cherelus have done much of anything to impress this summer. Wallace has been underwhelming so far in the NFL, while Cherelus has mostly been a backup. Neither player has pulled away in the preseason, either, so the team might have to look outside.
There are some quality names still on the market, including one surefire Hall of Famer.
Bobby Wagner Would Fill Huge Need
If the Panthers want an accomplished linebacker, there’s nobody more fitting than Bobby Wagner.
Wagner has 10 Pro Bowl selections, six First-team All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl win on his resume. The linebacker just turned 36, though, and it was clear in 2025 that he had lost a step, which is why he’s still unsigned.
Wagner at 70% is still a better option than your average linebacker, though. Zach Roberts of Panthers OnSI thinks Wagner still has enough to offer.
“Bobby Wagner has been coasting off of name recognition the last few years, but he’s still a surefire Hall of Famer. And he proved last year that he has a little bit left in the tank,” Roberts said. “As a rotational or secondary linebacker, he’d probably thrive in a limited role next to Devin Lloyd. It would be a short-term fix, but the Panthers don’t need a mainstay.”
As Roberts mentioned, the Panthers wouldn’t NEED Wagner to play at an elite level. Lloyd will handle most of the responsibilities, so Wagner would just need to be serviceable. Plus, there’s no doubt Wagner would be a nice locker room presence for the team.
In 2025, Wagner played in all 17 games for the Washington Commanders and collected 162 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and two interceptions. Wagner earned a solid 78.6 Pro Football Focus grade, which ranked 9th out of 88 off-ball linebackers.
Even if Wagner is just average, he would probably be an improvement over Wallace and Cherelus. Of course, adding Wagner would be a temporary fix, but a stopgap option is better than nothing.
