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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 10: Jaelan Phillips #50 of the Philadelphia Eagles in action against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers are ramping up for the 2026 season specifically on the defensive side of the ball.
According to an ESPN article, new Carolina Panthers edge rusher Jaelan Phillips already has plans to buy a house in Charlotte with a “nice backyard and a pool” for his fiancé and his soon to-be born first child.
Carolina signed the former Philadelphia Eagles Pass Rusher Jaelan Phillips to a 4-year, $120 Million contract.
After signing a huge contract with Carolina, the pass rusher already has big plans for the 2026 season. He aims to add to the Carolina Panthers’ bright future on defense in 2026.
Jaelan Phillips Believes He Can Produce Double Digit Sacks
Getting to the quarterback was a major problem for two years before Carolina signed Phillips. In 2025, the Carolina Panthers had a 34% pass-rush win rate. As a result, the Panthers ranked 16th in total defense. They ranked 20th in the NFL against the run and 15th against the pass.
“The biggest missing part in general manager Dan Morgan’s plan to turn a defense that was statistically the worst in NFL history two years ago into a top 10 unit has been an elite pass rusher.” David Newton wrote in the ESPN article. “Morgan made attempts with midlevel pass rushers seemingly on the verge of taking the next step, but none panned out.”
Jaelan Phillips thinks he can produce double digit sacks with the Carolina Panthers. A Panthers player has not done so since Brian Burns in 2022.
“That’s kind of the next step of my career,” Phillips said in the ESPN article. “But at the bare minimum I’m a disruptive force.”
“The Panthers are banking on it. They gave Phillips a larger free agent deal than the four-year, $112 million contract Trey Hendrickson got from the Baltimore Ravens and the four-year, $100 million deal Odafe Oweh got from the Washington Commanders.” Newton wrote.
Jaelan Phillips was selected 18th overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami. Phillips recorded 26 sacks, 177 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 61 quarterback hits over 55 games played before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline last year.
Jaelan Phillips’ Bold Message To The NFL
Phillips is ready to get to work in Carolina. As a result, he wants to send a clear message to the league about his production.
“The only knock you can say about me is that I don’t have a bunch of sacks,” Phillips said. “It’s not that it’s irrelevant.” Phillips said in the ESPN article. “Obviously, production matters. At the end of the day, as long as you’re being disruptive, as long as you’re making an impact and making plays … this game is about a lot more than sacks.”
“I’m a disruptive force…When I get on that field, man, it’s instinctive, it’s fast. … It’s balls to the walls 100% of the time.”
Phillips will join a Carolina defense that blitzed on 27% of its snaps in 2025. With a new change of scenery, many will be looking forward to the edge rusher’s potential. With a young and rising defense, the Panthers will be a threat in the NFC South.