Tag: ejiro evero

Ejiro Evero talks about Panthers’ familiar free-agent signings

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero will be reunited with some familiar faces from his LA and Denver days.

Continuity is key in the NFL—and unfortunately for the Carolina Panthers, they haven’t experienced a ton of it in recent years. But some familiar faces will be in the building, even if they weren’t on the team last season.

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who was retained through the transition into new head coach Dave Canales, spoke with reporters on Thursday afternoon. He was asked about a few of the front office’s free-agent signings, particularly the ones he has a history with.

“The first part is that those guys are all very, very good football players,” Evero said. “They’re smart, they’re tough, they’re instinctive, they play hard, they’re great teammates. So from that standpoint, they uplift their team.”

Evero will be reunited with linebacker Josey Jewell, whom he coached as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator in 2022, as well as defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson and safeties Jordan Fuller and Nick Scott—his guys over from the Los Angeles Rams days. They’ll all look to add to the defense that allowed the fourth-fewest total yards in 2023.

And although there will be some familiarity between he and his players, that doesn’t necessarily mean their roles will be the same in Carolina.

“The defense is gonna be a little bit different than how we played it in Denver, how we played it at the LA Rams,” Evero added. “So from that standpoint, it’s gonna be a little bit of an adjustment. But havin’ those guys on our team right now is such a huge step forward for us.”

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Ejiro Evero speaks about his return to the Panthers

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero said the decision to return to Carolina was an easy one.

Even though he didn’t land head-coaching gig for the second straight offseason, Ejiro Evero still found himself in a very desirable position.

The Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator spoke with reporters for the first time since being retained as the Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator. After issuing his opening statement to start off his presser on Thursday afternoon, Evero was asked what went into the process of his return.

“Obviously, there’s a lot that goes on that time of year,” he replied. “I’m very grateful and thankful for the opportunities I got interviewing for these head-coaching jobs and I don’t take those lightly and I know those things are a blessing.”

Evero ended up with multiple interviews for the vacancies in Atlanta and Seattle. He also drew interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars for their defensive coordinator job, a prospect that was reportedly shot down by Carolina.

He continued.

“Comin’ back here—I’m very fortunate that Dave [Canales] and Dan [Morgan] and Mr. Tepper gave me this opportunity to come back here,” Evero added. “Again. like, these positions are so highly coveted, and it’s an honor to be an NFL defensive coordinator—especially here, in this community. My family loves living here. We’re really finally settled in and enjoyin’ it. The organization has been fantastic. The players here—I really, really, really love the players that we have here and just workin’ with them on a daily basis. So from that standpoint, that decision was very easy.”

Although Evero did a relatively fine job for the organization in 2023, as he turned a decimated defense into the league’s fourth-stingiest unit, his return was no sure thing. The team could’ve opted to completely overhaul their staff in their transition to head coach Dave Canales.

Alas, Evero and his entire branch of assistants were always a part of Canales’ plan in Carolina—and both sides feel lucky to have one another for 2024.

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Panthers DT Derrick Brown gives early impressions of HC Dave Canales

Panthers DT Derrick Brown offered his first impressions of new HC Dave Canales on Wednesday.

So, how’s the new guy so far? Well, let’s see what one of the top guys thinks.

Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown spoke to reporters on Monday, his first chat since making his four-year, $96 million deal an official one. Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer would ask the Pro Bowl defender about his early impressions of new head coach Dave Canales.

“Coach Canales is a great guy,” Brown replied. “Even from the Monday that we got back in and we started back up—he set the goal for us moving forward. It’s just let’s back to the basics and let’s just play ball, and let’s do it that way and let’s do it the right way.”

Canales seems to be breathing some fresh energy into the building already. The 42-year-old was captured greeting each player individually as they met up for the first installment of the offseason workout program on Monday.

Brown also touched on a few coaches he’s already familiar with, including defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

“Getting Coach E back was a huge thing for me,” he later added. “Also having Todd Wash back as our D-line coach. This is the first time in my career I’ve had the same D-line coach two years in a row. So, just being able to have familiarity around the building and being able to stay in the system and know the system and just keep going within the system, I think that’s been awesome.”

Under Evero and Wash, Brown posted 103 tackles in 2023—setting a new single-season NFL record for a defensive lineman.

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Panthers reportedly expected to sign former Broncos LB Justin Strnad

The Panthers are reportedly adding former Broncos LB Josh Strnad.

The Carolina Panthers are making things even more familiar for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

As first reported by Joe Person of The Athletic on Tuesday evening, the team is expected to sign free-agent linebacker Justin Strnad. Strnad, who comes over from the Denver Broncos, played the 2022 season under Evero.

Denver selected the Wake Forest University product in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. After sitting out what would have been his rookie campaign due to a wrist injury, Strnad debuted in the 2021 season—where he made five starts over 16 contests.

Strnad posted 36 combined tackles and a quarterback hit that year, both of which remain as career-highs. He played exclusively on special teams for the Broncos in 2022 and 2023.

Right around the time of Person’s report, the Panthers announced another addition—former Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver David Moore. Moore returns for a second stint with the organization.

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Panthers promoting Jonathan Cooley to defensive passing game coordinator

Per The Athletic, the Panthers have promoted secondary/cornerbacks coach Jonathan Cooley to defensive passing game coordinator.

Not only is Jonathan Cooley sticking around with the Carolina Panthers in 2024, but he’s also adding a new title to his résumé.

As first reported by Joe Person of The Athletic on Tuesday, the team has promoted Cooley to the defensive passing game coordinator position. He was hired by the Panthers as their secondary/cornerbacks coach last year.

Cooley came over after spending three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams—where he crossed paths with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. He began there as a defensive assistant and quality control coach in 2020, and was promoted to defensive backs coach for the 2022 season.

Prior to his jump to the NFL, the Columbus, Ohio native spent nearly a decade in the college ranks. He worked the sidelines for Millikin, Bluffton, his alma mater of John Carroll, Kentucky, Tennessee at Chattanooga, Kent State and Akron.

Despite their head-coaching change, Carolina retained Evero, Cooley and the rest of the defensive staff earlier this offseason.

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Panthers reportedly signing former Rams S Jordan Fuller

The Panthers are reportedly set to reunite Jordan Fuller with Ejiro Evero and Jonathan Cooley.

The Carolina Panthers just had themselves another successful free-agent visit.

As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the team is expected to sign former Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero added that the deal is a one-year agreement worth up to $5.25 million.

Fuller, who met with the Panthers on Friday, was selected by the Rams in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. The Ohio State University product spent all four of his pro campaigns in Los Angeles—where he amassed 279 combined tackles, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles and 46 starts over 48 games.

It’d be out west where Fuller first crossed paths with current Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero—who served as Fuller’s position coach in 2020 and the secondary coach in 2021. He also worked with Carolina’s secondary/cornerbacks coach Jonathan Cooley, who was a defensive assistant, assistant secondary coach and defensive backs coach for the Rams from 2020 to 2022.

In addition to Fuller, the Panthers reportedly reached an agreement with outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson on Friday.

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Panthers reportedly agree to terms with DT A’Shawn Robinson

According to NFL Network, the Panthers are expected to sign DT A’Shawn Robinson to a three-year deal.

After adding a pair of hog mollies on Monday, the Carolina Panthers turned their attention to the opposite side of the trenches.

As first reported by NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, the team has come to terms with defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. Per Garafolo, the 28-year-old veteran is expected to sign a three-year, $28.5 million deal.

Robinson was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. The University of Alabama product stayed in the Motor City for four seasons—where he totaled 172 tackles, 5.0 sacks and three forced fumbles over 58 games.

He’d then move out west to join the Los Angeles Rams beginning in 2020. There, Robinson would cross paths with current Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who served as the Rams’ safeties coach, secondary coach and passing game coordinator.

This past season saw Robinson record 13 starts in 17 games for the New York Giants. The 6-foot-4, 330-pounder amassed 62 combined tackles, the second-highest total of his eight-year career.

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Clemson CB Nate Wiggins says he’s formally met with Panthers

Clemson CB Nate Wiggins said he has formally met with the Panthers.

In their 30 years of representing both Carolinas, the Carolina Panthers have never drafted a player from nearby Clemson University. But there’s a Tiger up at the combine right now who’s already making a pretty good case to snap that.

As noted by Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com on Thursday, cornerback Nate Wiggins said he has formally met with the team. The 20-year-old even flexed some knowledge about Carolina, stating he loves defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s system given its man-to-man elements.

Wiggins, an Atlanta, Ga. native, played at Clemson from 2021 to 2023. Over that time, which culminated in a first-team All-ACC selection this past season, he recorded 60 tackles, three interceptions and two touchdown returns.

Unfortunately for those who are hoping that Wiggins breaks that Clemson-less streak for the Panthers, the talented and long-limbed prospect is not likely to last after the first round. Carolina’s earliest pick, at least at the moment, is the 33rd overall selection.

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14 pending defensive free agents with ties to the Panthers’ coaching staff

Pro Bowl pass rusher and pending free agent Josh Allen has an early connection with a member of the Carolina coaching staff.

Unlike their staff on offense, the Carolina Panthers didn’t need to touch their defensive coaches going into 2024. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have connections to a few intriguing free agents.

Here are 14 pending defensive free agents, in areas of need, who have ties to Carolina’s coaching staff:

Panthers retain 13 assistant coaches, including entire defensive staff

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero will have his entire staff back for 2024.

The Carolina Panthers did more than just roll out the hirings of six new faces on Thursday. They also announced the returns of 13 familiar ones.

In addition to their additions, the team is retaining 13 assistant coaches—headlined by defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Evero will be joined back by his entire defensive staff.

The group is as follows:

  • Dom Capers (defensive assistant)
  • Todd Wash (defensive line coach)
  • Bert Watts (secondary/safeties coach)
  • Jonathan Cooley (secondary/cornerbacks coach)
  • Peter Hansen (inside linebackers coach)
  • Tem Lukabu (outside linebackers coach)
  • DeAngelo Hall (assistant defensive backs coach)
  • Mayur Chaudhari (defensive assistant)
  • Bobby Maffei (defensive quality control coach)

Carolina will also keep a few offensive minds in senior assistant Jim Caldwell and offensive assistant Mike Bercovici. Game management coordinator George Li will be staying on as well.

Along with Evero, the organization previously announced the hirings of their two new coordinators in Brad Idzik and Tracy Smith—who will lead the offense and special teams, respectively.

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