The Carolina Panthers signed Jaelan Phillips to a massive four-year, $120 million contract.
New Carolina Panthers defender Jaelan Phillips was named the NFL's most overpaid edge-rusher by Moe Moton of Bleacher Report.
The Panthers signed Phillips to a four-year, $120 million contract this offseason in free agency.
"Carolina won't regret taking a swing at a top edge-rusher on the free-agent market, but it's odd to see that Phillips will earn more in cash than star edge-rushers Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr., T.J. Watt and Maxx Crosby this year," Moton wrote.
Phillips played for the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles last season. The Eagles acquired the 27-year-old from the Dolphins in November.
Phillips finished last season with five sacks, 29 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss and 14 QB hits with Miami and Philadelphia. Not exactly great numbers, but he still got paid by Carolina.
Phillips has 28 sacks in the NFL with the Dolphins and Eagles. His main job next season is to wreak havoc on opposing QBs.
The Panthers, under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, run a base 3-4 defense. Phillips isn't worried about adjusting his game to a new defensive scheme. After all, it's his job to learn on the fly.
"I've played a lot in 3-4s," Phillips said. "I definitely can say that I'm versatile in the sense that I can get down to the 3 (technique), I can play the edge. I can walk out in coverage. I can drop back to the inside backer if I need to. I've done a lot of things in a lot of different defenses.
"I think that's kind of one of the fortunate things that I've had different coordinators with different teams, different position coaches, stuff like that. So, I've had a lot of experience and been involved in a lot of different systems, so I think that I can definitely contribute in that sense of just being versatile and allowing the defense to be able to be multiple because you don't have to worry about my position."
Phillips has to put up star numbers next season. Otherwise, fans and pundits will bash him over his contract.
The Panthers should also be concerned about Phillips' injury history. He's played three full seasons in five years, missing 22 outings between 2023 and 2024.
It will be fascinating to see how Phillips plays with the Panthers, who open the season against the Chicago Bears at home.
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