With the 2026 NFL Free Agency period kicking off this week, Carolina Panthers’ fans are excited to see what general manager Dan Morgan has in store for the franchise this offseason.

After making the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the Panthers have a unique oppertunity to build off the recent success leading up to the 2026 NFL season. One position of need for the Panthers is the defensive end position, as last year’s front four ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks.

Luckily for fans, Morgan and the front office may have found their answer on Monday afternoon.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Panthers have reportedly signed former Philadelphia Eagles EDGE Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million deal to kick off the free agency period.

Phillips, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has had an interesting career throughout his five years in the NFL. Originally selected by the Miami Dolphins, Phillips spent most of his career with the AFC East organization.

In his first two seasons with the Dolphins, the talented pass rusher quickly became a key defender, recording 103 tackles and 13.5 sacks. And despite him missing a good portion of the 2023 season, Phillips still managed to finish with 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks in eight games.

Unfortunately for the former Miami Hurricane standout, injuries have played a major factor in his career with the Dolphins. During the 2024 season, Phillips would play in just four games for Miami after tearing his ACL at the beginning of the season. This caused the Dolphins to move off him at the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.

Now, Phillips has a perfect opportunity to revitalize his career with the Panthers in 2026, as he will be one of the team’s top pass rushers. 2025 second-round pick Nic Scourton showed plenty of promise throughout his rookie season, but the experience of Phillips will help his development in the future. With a combination of Phillips and Scourton heading into next season, Carolina’s pass rush should have more success in the coming years.

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