Nov 29, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig (7) warms up prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Jay Biggerstaff USA TODAY NETWORK
The Carolina Panthers want to use Tre’von Moehrig as a versatile chess piece on defense.
The team’s premier free-agent addition has a reputation of being a strong run defender. But the former Las Vegas Raiders safety is more than just a sound tackler in the box. He’s proven to be a strong blitzer, and his ball skills shouldn’t be overlooked, either.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley can afford to be creative with Moehrig, especially in sub-packages. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety has the size and physicality to lay down the law near the line of scrimmage, and that could help the defensive play-caller, Evero, mix and match his personnel looks before the snap.
“With our experience in the past, with guys like Jalen Ramsey and Pat Surtain, there are certainly guys that you view them as weapons, that you know they have a way of impacting the game,” Evero said last week. “When I look at Moerhig, what he can do in the deep part of the field as a coverage player, what he can do close to the line of scrimmage as a run defender, he’s very versatile. He’s certainly an asset for us and our defense, and it’s on us to make sure we get him in a position to utilize his strengths.”
Dec 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (88) is stopped by Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre’von Moehrig (7) in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck USA TODAY NETWORK
As the Panthers attempt to figure out their reworked safety depth chart, Moehrig can adapt to the needs of the secondary.
If Carolina decides that Demani Richardson will be his running mate, Moehrig can complement the second-year safety by playing more in the box. If fifth-round pick Lathan Ransom earns a starting job as a rookie, Moehrig can be used more in the deep part of the field. And if the team decides to spend more money on another veteran like Justin Simmons or Julian Blackmon, Moehrig can move back and forth and create favorable matchups for Evero’s coverage unit.
The 25-year-old veteran, who signed a three-year, $51 million deal in March, has shown the ability to come up big in multiple ways during his four-year career. He has produced 297 total tackles (eight for loss), three sacks, five quarterback hits, 29 pass breakups and six interceptions in the NFL.
“We’re going to be able to utilize him in a bunch of different ways, and I think in free agency, that’s why he was so intriguing to us,” general manager Dan Morgan told The Observer in March. “He can play deep, but you can also bring him up into a big nickel role. You can blitz him, he’s going to be able to play the run from there, dominate receivers — he can play off tight ends, too — so just to have his skill set in our defense is going to do wonders, just with the run fits and the tackling.
“Our tackling wasn’t good enough last year, either. So that was obviously a big point of emphasis: Just getting guys that can bring the ball carrier down as well.”
Along with versatility and tackling efficiency, Moehrig brings a young veteran presence to the room.
While Nick Scott, a six-year veteran, was re-signed in free agency, the Panthers needed a tone-setter on defense. With Richardson and Ransom, among others, still learning the NFL game, Moehrig is in a position to lead the younger guys and put his stamp on the secondary.
The Panthers are hoping that stamp comes with some long-lasting, bold ink.