Pat Jones II has officially signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. This contract comes as a huge milestone in his young professional football career. The ex-Minnesota Vikings defensive end earned applause from fans for his breakout 12 sacks campaign in 2024. Now, he takes that talent to the Panthers, where expectations couldn’t be higher. His arrival is especially timely given the current crossroads we find ourselves. The team certainly seems to be looking for ways to shore up its defensive front, especially after three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney departed.
Third-round NFL draft pick by the Vikings, Jones is the type of player that gets y’all fired up on Friday nights. Away from the turf, his fresh personality is equally as electric, making him a true stand out. In his first press appearances with the Panthers, Cheek mentioned his love for fishing an astounding 23 times. What was once a hobby has turned into an intrinsic element of his personal identity. He likes to compare his data-driven approach to it with that of fishing and football.
The Panthers have made some interesting moves this offseason to strengthen their defensive front. Clowney’s exodus to the Houston Texans left a big hole to fill. Jones is excited by the opportunity to bring his talents to that role. Panthers add Andrew Van Ginkel on a one-year, $9 million deal. They further extended Jonathan Greenard for four years, $76M. When you couple this talent infusion with the team’s ability – or lack thereof – to pressure opposing quarterbacks, you’ve got a pretty strong angle here.
Jones made generating pressure and disrupting quarterbacks a priority during his time in his new role. He stated, “I definitely think we could do something similar, if not better,” referring to the Panthers’ potential for success this season. Jones can’t help but be excited about the talent the team possesses. We’ve seen it, so we know what it can look like—just take a peek all around the building—we have all the tools at our disposal to create magic and be successful!
It was an incredible turnaround story with the Vikings. To go from 25th in the NFL in sacks in 2023 — tied for fourth in 2024 — his faith is most deeply rooted. He knows that if the right pieces fall into place, the Panthers can have the same success.
On a funner note, Jones’s love for angling is what led to his one-of-a-kind sack celebration. After sacking quarterback Brock Purdy, he flexed with style. He pretended to cast a fishing pole and reel in a fish, adding an amusing flourish to his win. This surprising and whimsical combination of his two great passions makes for a fun element of gameplay that is distinctly personal to Damo.
“I catfish, I catch bass, I fish in the ocean, I catch sharks,” Jones remarked about his fishing experiences. And he already has another trip to Lake Norman in the works, looking to reel in another whopper of a bass. Those long-ago experiences of catching that beautiful 8-pound bass in his uncle’s pond as a young boy still play fresh in his mind.
Her life being rooted in a military household and spending her summers in Charlotte cultivated the kind of grit that Jones needed to persevere. His connections to the region make his signing with the Panthers even more meaningful.
As he prepares for this new chapter in his career, Jones is focused on making an impact rather than filling Clowney’s shoes. “I never looked at this as an opportunity to fill any shoes,” he said. “I looked at it as an opportunity to show everybody what I can do.”
Playing opposite former teammate D.J. Wonnum only adds to the motivation for Jones as they strive together to protect their new turf. He understands that as much as individual performance matters, the ability to create an elite rotation will be key to his team’s success. “I know I’m ready,” he noted, “but you’ve always got to have a good rotation.”
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