Pass-rusher D.J. Wonnum reaches 2-year deal with Panthers

Pass-rusher D.J. Wonnum agreed to a contract with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Thursday.

The deal is for two years and worth $12.5 million, a source told ESPN's David Newton.

Wonnum is the first step in the Panthers trying to replace Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns, traded to the New York Giants earlier in the week. Carolina also is getting a visit from Jadeveon Clowney, like Wonnum another former University of South Carolina star. Chase Young also visited with Carolina on Thursday but left without a deal.

The Minnesota Vikings' fourth-round pick in 2020, Wonnum spent the majority of two seasons -- 2021 and 2023 -- as a full-time starter. He registered eight sacks in each of those seasons and seemed destined for more in 2023 until a torn quadriceps ended his season in Week 16.

Wonnum had opened training camp expected to back up outside linebackers Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport, but a series of ankle injuries limited Davenport to four games. In the process, Wonnum showed that he could be an effective pass rusher in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes.

Last season, he posted two sacks in a 24-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers. In an earlier 21-13 victory over the Panthers, Wonnum recorded one sack, knocked down a pass and returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown.

In 62 games, including 31 starts, Wonnum has 23 sacks, 24 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and 49 quarterback hits.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.