Jadeveon Clowney attempting to recruit former DPOY to Panthers

While adding Clowney will help the defense, there are some potential holes to fill. Carolina traded two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Burns to the New York Giants on March 13 and cornerback Donte Jackson to the Pittsburgh Steelers for one-time Pro Bowl wideout Diontae Johnson on March 13.

Clowney and Gilmore spent just one collegiate season together, leading the Gamecocks to an 11-2 record and victory in the Capital One Bowl during the 2011 campaign. Clowney (then a freshman) finished second on the team in sacks behind three-time Pro Bowler Melvin Ingram, while Gilmore (a junior) led South Carolina with four interceptions.

The defensive back spent the first five years of his pro career with the Buffalo Bills from 2012-16 and made his first Pro Bowl during his final season in Western New York. Gilmore signed with the New England Patriots in March 2017 and made three straight Pro Bowls from 2018-20, earning First Team All-Pro honors twice and winning the AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019.

He helped New England win its most recent championship in Super Bowl LIII.

As he was recovering from a partially torn quad and engaged in a contract dispute with the Pats, Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers in October 2021, where he made his fifth and most recent Pro Bowl despite being limited to eight games.

He spent the 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in March 2023.