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Panthers' $8 million free-agent decision is turning into a genuine coin flip

D.J. Wonnum’s contract year seems straightforward. A 28-year-old veteran edge rusher entering free agency with zero sacks this season? No thank you.

But nothing about Wonnum’s 2025 season has been normal. Nothing about his future is as clear-cut as fans think, either.

"I've kind of never had a season like this, just statistical wise," Wonnum admitted. "There's never been like a—I've always had numbers at this point in the season."

He’s right. Even his rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings ended with 3.0 sacks, the lowest total he’s ever posted. From there, he delivered 8.