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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 16: Jaelan Phillips #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts to a defensive stop during the second half of a game against the Detroit Lions at Lincoln Financial Field on November 16, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers went into this free agency period with a plan to continue adding weapons to their much-improved defense from last season. So far, it has been mission accomplished.
On Monday, at the start of free agency, the Panthers made asomewhat shocking move, signing pass rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 deal with $80 million guaranteed. The Philadelphia Eagleswere rumored to be the favorites to retain Phillips, but the Panthers outbid them to land their guy.
Later on, the Panthers added Devin Lloyd to their linebacking corps on a three-year, $45 million deal with $25 million guaranteed. Both Lloyd and Phillips unquestionably improve the Panthers defense, but some have questioned if Phillips was worth his expensive price tag.
Breaking the Bank
The Panthers on Monday made Jaelan Phillips one of theNFL’s highest-paid edge rushers. At $30 million per year, Phillips makes just below Nick Bosa at $34 million a year, and just above Josh Hines-Allen at $28 million per year, according toOver the Cap.
Phillips’ deal with the Panthers was larger than most analysts predicted and has caused some to question whether Phillips’ production is worth that type of deal. Eagles beat reporter forNJ.com, Cayden Steele,questioned on Twitterwhether Phillips was worth the money the Panthers paid while acknowledging his impact with the Eagles.
“My take on theEagles’ losing Jaelan Phillips to the Panthers: 30 million annually for a good edge rusher is way too much,”Steele wrote. “I heard the Eagles really wanted him back and thought it would happen. But that number is probably way beyond anything they expected.That’s the number you give to elite pass rushers, and Phillipsjust isn’t that type of player. Still, itwon’t be easy to replace him. He provided the defense an edge this past season with his tough run defense and constant pressure.”
WhilePhillips’ deal is massive, his ability to generate pressure and raise thedefense’s floor is a valuable asset for a team.
Difference Maker
Jaelan Phillips showed off his resilience in 2025, bouncing back from two consecutive season-ending injuries to start all 17 regular games and a playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the Eagles.
In his return-to-form season, Phillips made his presence known, generating pressure at a top-10 clip in the NFL, according toNext Gen Stats.
“From Week 5 through the end of 2025, Jaelan Phillips generated the 6th-most pressures in the NFL (54), just behind Myles Garrett (56) and ahead of Nik Bonitto (53). Phillips led the Eagles with 34 pressures since joining the team in Week 10.”
The pressure that Phillips can generate makes him an intriguing piece to a Panthers pass rush that already features Derrick Brown, Princely Umanmielen, and Nic Scourton.
Joe Person of The Athletic wrote on Twitter that all the pieces Panthers general manager Dan Morgan put together have the makings of a Top 10 defense in the NFL.
“With Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd joining Pro Bowlers Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn, ascending S Tre’von Moehrig and others, a defense that in 2024 allowed the most points in NFL history now has the look — at least on paper — of a top-10 unit,”Person wrote.
Whether Phillips lives up to his enormous contract remains to be seen. Still, thePanthers’ willingness to spend this amount on a pass rusher signals to the league that the team is serious about remaining a contender in 2026.