4 years in the past, A.J. Bouye was a part of a proficient protection that spearheaded the Jaguars‘ unbelievable run to a convention championship recreation look. Bouye will attempt to be a part of an analogous run in Carolina, the place he has agreed to phrases with the Panthers.

The 29-year-old cornerback will be a part of a younger protection that features defensive finish Brian Burns, linebacker Shaq Thompson, security Jeremy Chinn, cornerbacks Donte Jackson and Troy Delight Jr. and defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos. Throughout Matt Rhule’s first season in Carolina, the Panthers’ protection completed 18th within the NFL in scoring and passing, twentieth in dashing, twenty fifth in third down effectivity and twenty eighth in pink zone effectivity.

In Bouye, the Panthers are getting a nine-year veteran who made 69 begins throughout his first eight years within the NFL. In 100 profession regular-season video games, Bouye has tallied 14 interceptions and 72 passes defensed. After beginning in simply two video games throughout his first three seasons, Bouye grew to become a starter after transferring from Houston to Jacksonville in 2017. He earned Professional Bowl honors that season whereas making a career-high six interceptions. His play that season helped Jacksonville end a number of performs in need of advancing to the Jaguars’ first Tremendous Bowl.

Bouye spent two extra seasons in Jacksonville earlier than spending the 2020 season with the Broncos. Accidents and a six-game suspension for violating the league’s coverage on performance-enhancing medicine restricted him to only seven video games final season. Bouye, who was launched by the Broncos in February, nonetheless has two video games remaining on his suspension.