Jadeveon Clowney felt a sense of relief when he signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, the NFL team located near his hometown of Rock Hill, S.C. However, this relief wasn’t just about securing his place in the league for another two years.

Clowney emphasized that every year feels like a contract year to him. “Every contract to me is year-to-year,” he said. “Anything can happen.” The three-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall draft pick shared these thoughts after the Panthers’ first mandatory minicamp session on Tuesday afternoon, nearly three months following the announcement of his two-year, $24 million deal with the team.

This signing was significant for Carolina, as they needed to bolster their defense and enhance their pass rush, which had weakened during free agency. Clowney joined the Panthers after a standout season in Baltimore, where he recorded a career-high 9.5 sacks in 17 games and forced two fumbles.

The deal was also noteworthy for Clowney, as it was his first multi-year contract since his rookie agreement with the Houston Texans. This season, he will be playing for his sixth team in 11 years.

When questioned about the frequent changes in his career and whether the longer contract with Carolina made any difference, the 6-foot-5, 267-pound South Carolina Gamecock alum smiled and shrugged politely.