The Carolina Panthers have made a surprising addition to their roster a 20-year-old edge rusher from Peterborough, England, who arrives via the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Once crunching numbers behind a desk, he is now chasing quarterbacks in one of the most intriguing moves of the offseason.
His road to the NFL feels straight out of a documentary. Born to Zambian parents and raised on soccer with dreams of becoming the next Yaya Touré, his future changed drastically after clocking a 10.48-second 100-meter dash at a casual university sports event. That eye-popping speed caught a friend’s attention, leading him to dive into Netflix football series like Last Chance U and Quarterback. Within a year, he was turning heads at a Pro Day co-hosted by the NFL and the University of South Florida—outshining experienced prospects and earning a spot on the Panthers’ radar.
A Raw Talent for a Team in Transition
For a franchise rebuilding its identity, Mwansa offers both long-term promise and a fresh cultural spark. With the pass rush being revamped under new outside linebackers coach AC Carter and the recent addition of Patrick Jones II, Mwansa’s arrival adds another intriguing piece. Thanks to the IPP exemption, he doesn’t count against the active roster, but his ceiling is high. He’s already drawn physical comparisons to the Eagles’ Nolan Smith Jr. and is flashing potential as a pass rusher with serious bend.
Panthers Director of Player Personnel Cole Spencer put it simply: “When you get a raw talent like that and the league gives you an extra roster spot, that’s a win.”
Now donning jersey No. 96, Mwansa is more than just a developmental player—he’s proof of the NFL’s expanding global reach and a testament to personal perseverance. Carolina fans love a good underdog tale, and this one might just be a sleeper hit.
Keep an eye on him this preseason—Maz Mwansa’s story is only beginning.