The Panthers have reportedly reached an agreement to sign veteran defensive tackle D.J. Wonnum to a two-year contract.

The Carolina Panthers have secured a two-year deal with defensive tackle D.J. Wonnum, who previously played for the Minnesota Vikings. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the contract is valued at $12.5 million over two years, as reported by Sheena Quick of 1340 Fox Sports.

Wonnum, a former fourth-round draft pick, spent his entire NFL career with the Vikings, where his role varied over the years from part-time to full-time player. In the 2023 season, he started 14 out of 15 games and participated in over 80% of the team’s defensive snaps.

Despite tallying eight sacks in each of his two seasons as a starter, Wonnum’s performance didn’t rank highly among Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings in 2023. He landed at 74th out of 112 qualifying edge defenders, though he received commendation for his strong run defense grade.

The Panthers have been seeking depth to compensate for the departure of Pro Bowl defender Brian Burns, who was traded to the Giants earlier in the week. While Wonnum will contribute to filling Burns’ void, he is expected to be part of a larger solution rather than the sole replacement.

With both Danielle Hunter and Wonnum leaving the Vikings, the team has undergone significant changes to its pass-rushing unit. New acquisitions such as Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman are anticipated to feature prominently on the edge in the upcoming 2023 season.