Day one of the 2026 NFL Free Agency period is officially in the books, which means it’s time to review the Carolina Panthers haul from Monday.

General manager Dan Morgan was not afraid to use his free cap space during the first day of free agency, as the rising franchise signed multiple players for the upcoming NFL season.

Here is a look at all the deals Morgan and the Panthers made thus far.

Deal: Four years, $120 million

Morgan kicked off the first day of legal tampering with a massive splash, signing former Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end Jaelan Phillips.

The 26-year-old defensive playmaker has faced plenty of adversity throughout his career in the NFL due to suffering multiple injuries. Despite the Panthers desperately needing an additional pass rusher alongside 2025 second-round pick Nic Scourton, signing Phillips to a huge contract felt like a reach for Morgan and the front office, especially when considering his rich injury history.

Grade: C-

Deal: Three years, $45 million

Earlier this offseason, Morgan made it clear that he wanted to add a highly-touted linebacker for the 2026 NFL season. Luckily for fans, the organization made it a priority to address this position this offseason by signing former Jacksonville Jaguars star Devin Lloyd on Monday.

Throughout his four seasons with the Jaguars, Lloyd has turned into one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL, recording 436 tackles, nine interceptions, and 3.5 sacks. His ability to be a force in both pass coverage and run defense is exactly what the Panthers needed when looking ahead to next season.

Grade: A

Deal: One year, $7.5 million

With backup quarterback Andy Dalton drawing interest from teams this offseason, it was obvious that the Panthers must add another veteran to the room, as Dalton is seemingly out of the picture in 2026.

Pickett, after being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, has turned into a journeyman. However, his experience as a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and the Las Vegas Raiders should allow him to be a sufficient backup quarterback to Young in 2026 if he were to miss time.

Grade: C+

Panther Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Carolina Panthers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.