- Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus has signed with Athletes First for representation, with agents Olivia Green and Austin Lyman leading his deal.
- Cherelus posted a career-high 32 tackles across 14 games in the 2025 NFL season, earning a starting role late in the year after Trevin Wallace was placed on injured reserve.
- The 26-year-old enters free agency this offseason after his Panthers contract expires, making this signing especially timely.
- He continues with Ace PR for publicity.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Claudin Cherelus has signed with Athletes First for NFL representation. Agents Olivia Green and Austin Lyman will guide his career as he heads into free agency.
Cherelus, 26, of Haitian descent, entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets before being claimed off waivers by the Panthers. He has steadily grown his role in Carolina, peaking in the 2025 season with a career-high 32 tackles (14 solo) across 14 games.
He stepped into a starting inside linebacker spot in December after Trevin Wallace landed on injured reserve, holding his own in one of the most competitive linebacker rooms in the NFC South.
Athletes First has been on a run of linebacker signings this offseason. The firm recently added Dallas Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown and Miami Dolphins pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to its roster, signaling a clear focus on building out its NFL defensive talent base heading into 2026.
Cherelus continues his relationship with Ace PR for publicity.
Takeaways
This is a power move, plain and simple. Cherelus is heading into his first serious free agency window after quietly becoming one of Carolina’s most dependable defenders in 2025, and he’s now backed by one of the NFL’s most respected representation firms.
Athletes First doesn’t just negotiate contracts, they build careers. The agency’s recent pattern of signing linebackers shows they see real market value in this position heading into 2026, and Cherelus fits the profile of a player who is underpaid relative to his production.
For a guy who came in undrafted and had to claw for every snap, this signing is a signal that his team believes a big payday is within reach.
Can Cherelus’s 2025 breakout translate into a long-term starting contract in free agency? Will the Panthers try to retain him, or does this signing suggest he’s testing the open market? Which contending team makes the most sense as a landing spot for Cherelus this offseason?
