Panthers GM dishes on Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd signings

The Panthers were aggressive at the start of free agency, pouncing on big deals with outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and inside linebacker Devin Lloyd within hours of negotiations.

General manager Dan Morgan warned in the months leading up to the team’s spending splurge that his front office would “attack” its holes within the depth chart. And his actions matched his words.

More than a week after agreeing to the multiyear pacts with Phillips and Lloyd, Morgan said he’s confident the two big additions will enhance the Panthers’ defense.

“When you look at both of those guys, physically — how big they are, how long they are — the effort that they play with, how they prepare, they were defiinitely guys we had our eyes on during free agency,” Morgan said Friday during a 23-minute virtual conversation with media.

“Me, being a former player and watching them on tape, they have everything that you want in terms of the motor, the effort, the instincts, the range that they play with,” Morgan added. “So, they were really good adds for us, and guys that we’re really excited about, and they’re really going to help our defense moving forward.”

Jaelan Phillips, pictured here as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, pressures Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff during a game at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 16, 2025 in Philadelphia Mitchell Leff Getty Images

The third-year GM still has plenty of work to do entering April’s NFL Draft.

Evaluations are ongoing as college programs continue to host pro days across the country. Morgan will be on the lookout for prospects who can make his team better now and in the future.

“We feel really good about what we did and what we accomplished in free agency,” Morgan said. “I think we definitely hit on who we wanted to hit on, and we’re really happy with that. And again, it gives us a lot of flexibility heading into the draft to be able to do what we want to do and draft the best available players.

Here are four more takeaways from Morgan’s conversation with the media:

Why trade Andy Dalton now?

The Panthers agreed to trade backup quarterback Andy Dalton to the Philadelphia Eagles Wednesday. The deal can’t be completed without a physical, but the Panthers will net a 2027 seventh-round pick in the swap once it becomes official.

Throughout the first two months of the offseason, Morgan, specifically and frequently, discussed his desire to get younger and faster at the backup spot behind Bryce Young. He accomplished that mission on a one-year deal with Kenny Pickett, who is more than a decade younger than Dalton.

However, prior to acquiring Pickett, Morgan had mentioned that Dalton was open to a competition.

So, other than opening up $2.15 million in cap space, why trade Dalton now?

“I think we feel good about our quarterback room,” Morgan said. “Going back to Andy — Andy’s a guy that we hold in high regard here. He really helped Bryce come along as a rookie and into his third year. So, Andy, he brought a lot to our franchise — I can’t thank him enough for what he brought — and just the type of man he is as well. So, I definitely wish him the best.”

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton looks down field to Tommy Tremble as Buffalo Bills Dorian Willliams waits for the ball on Oct. 26, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

“Mobility, I think, is big in this league,” Morgan added while addressing the Pickett addition. “I think adding a guy like Kenny Pickett — that can move outside the pocket if he needs to, create with his legs if he needs to — I think those were all things that were intriguing to us. And heading into the draft, I think there’s going to be options there — whether they’re the best player at the time is yet to be seen. But if we have the opportunity to add another young guy to the mix, we’ll do that.”

The Panthers haven’t selected a quarterback under Morgan. Head coach Dave Canales hasn’t been able to develop a passer from scratch.

That said, the Panthers seem more open to that potential situation than in years past, especially as they look to budget their cap situation for the long haul.

How new additions impact outlooks for Brooks, Ekwonu

The Panthers added former Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker and former Philadelphia Eagles running back AJ Dillon during the second wave of free agency.

Walker, a three-year starter in Green Bay, was signed to a one-year deal worth a base value of $4 million, according to Over the Cap. He will presumably serve as Ickey Ekwonu (ruptured patellar tendon) insurance heading into the 2026 season at left tackle.

Dillon, though, is more likely to serve as depth competition on a one-year “prove it” deal as the Panthers’ monitor Jonathon Brooks’ recovery from back-to-back ACL surgeries in his right knee.

“Brooks and Ickey — they’re making progress,” Morgan said. “They’re with our trainers every day. They’re looking good. They’re working their butts off. I don’t have a timeline on (their recoveries) to update you with, but both those guys are headed in a good direction. I think those two guys are guys we’re looking to add to our team — that they’re both going to be healthy at some point — and we’ll just go from there.”

Carolina Panthers tackle Ikem Ekwonu sits on the team bench during action against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Walker has plenty of experience on the blindside. But given his short-term pact, the Panthers still have draft flexibility to add a long-term option at the position.

Morgan acknowledged that Ekwonu is making good progress, but he needed a backup plan for left tackle. Walker, who should be quite motivated after finding an underwhelming market, is now the first guy up.

“In terms of the adding Rasheed Walker, we’re excited about him and what he’s going to be able to bring,” Morgan said. “And I think that definitely gives Ickey time to recover, and when we get him back, we’ll be excited to have him back.”

Morgan declined to address Walker’s gun possession charge from earlier in the offseason. However, the GM did acknowledge they had a research process.

Yosh Nijman’s retirement ‘caught us a little off guard’

The Panthers pivoted to Walker following veteran swing tackle Yosh Nijman’s abrupt retirement last week.

Nijman, 30, had spent the past two seasons as the Panthers’ top reserve behind Ekwonu and right tackle Taylor Moton. The former Virginia Tech standout was particularly effective as a fill-in starter last season.

So, the Panthers did try to retain him. But Nijman, instead, decided to move on.

“First off, Yosh, obviously, he’s a really good person,” Morgan said. “A player that we did really want to bring back. Me, being in his shoes as a former player, I really understand what he was going through. He was trying to decide if he wanted to play or not. Caught us a little off guard, but again, I’ve been there, I understand what he’s thinking. I have a lot of respect for him and his decision. Just like every position in this league, you have to have backup plans, and I think we did a good job pivoting and adding to that position.”

Carolina’s Yosh Nijman during a 2025 preseason game at NRG Stadium in Houston. Alex Slitz Getty Images

The Panthers, prior to adding Walker, also agreed to a one-year deal with former Las Vegas Raiders offensive tackle Stone Forsythe. He started 13 games at left tackle for Las Vegas last season, but Pro Football Focus charged him with 11 sacks allowed.

Moton, Walker and Forsythe are the only healthy tackles on the roster at the moment.

What’s next for the Panthers’ roster?

Morgan said the team’s free agency plan was about signing “the best players,” and he feels like they accomplished that mission.

The team also re-signed several internal free agents to one-year deals, and those short-term contracts have given the Panthers the opportunity to upgrade elsewhere, presumably on similar-sized pacts.

“I think it’s really important, just to fill out your roster and add that depth and that competition that I talked about before,” Morgan said. “So, yeah, one-year deals — guys that we think can help our team immediately. Guys that are just going to compete and add depth and competition to different position groups.”

Devin Lloyd, pictured here as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, celebrates after intercepting a pass during against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. Ezra Shaw Getty Images

Despite the rash of re-signings and depth additions in the first week of free agency, Morgan might not be done adding veterans. He acknowledged the team is still evaluating the rest of the open market.

“There might be a few moves, here and there,” Morgan said. “Guys that we think we might be able to get. But yeah, we’re always going to be looking, we’re always going to be aggressive. There’s always going to be guys out there that aren’t signed that you think should be signed (and) that maybe an opportunity to get better and if we feel like they’ll make us better, then we’ll definitely explore it.”

Quick hitsMorgan credited Canales and the players on the current roster for building a culture that appeals to potential outside additions. He said he noticed this year that players were more excited to come to Carolina than when he took charge in 2024.Morgan spoke broadly about the value and depth that several retained free agents bring to the roster. In particular, Morgan was asked about the returning special teams aces — outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, cornerback Akayleb Evans and safety Isaiah Simmons — and the GM acknowledged that the trio also brings impact on the defensive side of the ball. He said the team holds that trio in high regard.Morgan said third-year tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, who is recovering from season-ending ankle surgery, is making good progress toward a return. The GM said he suspects Sanders will be cleared in time for organized team activities.

This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 2:08 PM.

Panthers GM dishes on Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd signings

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