Panthers to sign former Super Bowl-champion DT

The Panthers made a pair of major investments in the offensive line on Monday, and the team is now committing to a long-term deal on the other side of the ball. Veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $22.5M contract with Carolina, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Garafolo notes Robinson received an endorsement from Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. The pair were together when Robinson played with the Rams. That three-year stint saw him start 24 of 35 games between 2020 and 2022, although it wasn't sufficient to land him a multiyear deal in free agency last offseason.

Robinson joined the Giants on a one-year deal in 2023. That pact was worth up to $8M in incentives, although the 28-year-old ultimately earned its base value ($5M). He has secured a much more lucrative investment this time and will likely have a significant role in Carolina moving forward.

The Panthers have Derrick Brown in place as a foundational member of their D-line. The former top-10 pick enjoyed a career year in 2023, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Brown is eligible for an extension, and talks on that front have begun. A new deal for the 25-year-old will be costly, and the overlap (starting in 2025) with Robinson’s accord will make the DT position one using up considerable cap resources.

Robinson started 13 of 17 games in New York last year, racking up 62 tackles (the second-highest mark of his career). The Alabama product was a non-factor in the passing game, with no sacks and only one QB pressure. Still, Evero and co. will welcome his ability on early downs. Carolina struggled in several capacities last season, including against the run. Improvement in that regard will be a key offseason goal, and the Robinson accord aims to achieve it.