The Carolina Panthers are facing a pivotal offseason after winning the NFC South in 2025.
Carolina took a big step forward this past season, but the team’s quick exit from the playoffs showed there’s a lot of work to be done this offseason.
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One specific area where the Panthers will be looking to improve is their pass rush.
Carolina finished in the bottom three of the NFL in sacks in 2025.
“I think our pass rush, obviously to me and as everyone in the building would tell you, wasn’t up to par,” said Panthers general manager Dan Morgan in January. “We had the second lowest pressure rate in the league this year. Obviously, that is not acceptable. If you’re not protecting the quarterback and you’re not affecting the quarterback, you’re not going to win many games in this league. Especially at a consistent level.”
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ESPN makes free agent suggestion for the Panthers
ESPN’s David Newton pointed out Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jaelan Phillips as a pending free agent that makes sense for the Panthers.
“General manager Dan Morgan admitted the pass rush was ‘not acceptable” after the season,” wrote Newton. “It’s time to spend big money to fix that. Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson is the most notable free agent edge rusher, but he’s 31. Philadelphia’s Jaelan Phillips, 27, makes more sense as a fit for the Panthers given his experience in the 3-4 scheme.”
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Trey Hendrickson is the big name that’s going to draw attention this offseason, but signing Phillips could be a better move for the Panthers given his 3-4 experience and his age.
The big concern with Phillips, however, is his health. The former Miami standout played in all 17 games in 2025, but he played in only 12 total games in 2023 and 2024.
Because of the injury history, there’s a chance that Phillips’ market could drop to a range that makes financial sense for the Panthers.
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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.