CAROLINA PANTHERS


Carolina Panthers inside linebacker Devin Lloyd arrives at Bank of America Stadium March 11 to sign his contract, reportedly worth $45 million over three years.

Dashing in front of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Oct. 7, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd snared Patrick Mahomes’ pass near the goal line. 

Cradling the interception and sidestepping Mahomes’ lunging tackle attempt, Lloyd raced 99 yards downfield, 116.8 total yards and, at his quickest pace, accelerated to 18.92 mph on the career highlight pick-six. 

The Carolina Panthers, who enjoyed elite inside linebacker play through much of the franchise’s 31-year history, entered the offseason needing to add an All-Pro caliber playmaker to patrol the middle of the 3-4 base formation.  

After a series of nomads falling short recently of legends like Sam Mills, Dan Morgan, the team’s current general manager, Jon Beason and Luke Kuechly, Lloyd agreed Tuesday to a free agent deal that potentially upgrades a glaring hole. 

Lloyd and former Philadelphia Eagles edge Jaelan Phillips highlight Morgan’s initial free agent moves to open the 2026 NFL business year. Lloyd, the 2022 No. 27 overall draft pick by the Jaguars, earned an 88.4 defensive grade, per Pro Football Focus. He was rated fourth best among linebackers last season. The second-team All-Pro pick registered 28 quarterback pressures, 18 hurries and nine hits – top three among linebackers in each category.  

Despite finishing 8-9 in the regular season, the Panthers posted their eighth consecutive losing season but won the NFC South title and pushed the Los Angeles Rams to the edge in a wild-card loss. For Carolina to take the next step, Morgan said in January that enhancing the Panthers’ defensive skill set would remain his top priority. 

“We love (defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s) defense,” Morgan said. “It’s a really aggressive defense. I think as we continue to add players, I think that you’ll see this defense kind of come together.

“We made a lot of improvements on the defensive side of the ball (in 2025) and we’ll continue to get better and add pieces. We’re up for that challenge.”  

Seeking additional playmakers 

One season removed from the Panthers establishing a dubious all-time record of surrendering 534 points, the defenders remained healthy enough to finish No. 16 in total defense (327.2 yards per game). Still, the unit’s pass rush remained a weak link. Since 2023, they posted team sack totals of 27, 32, and 30. 

Enter Phillips.  

A day before Lloyd agreed to join the Panthers on a three-year, $45 million deal, Phillips became the first to join the fold. At the start of early tampering period, Morgan created early buzz by landing the former Philadelphia Eagles standout on a four-year, $120 million contract. 

Considered to be one of the top outside linebackers on the free-agent market, Phillips, the 2021 No. 18 overall pick by Miami, compiled 28 sacks in 63 games. Injury concerns continue to hamper his career. 

Reports suggested Phillips and Lloyd were Morgan’s top free-agent targets.

Here are other moves Morgan executed to start reshaping the roster before next month’s draft.  

• Kenny Pickett signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal to replace Andy Dalton as Bryce Young’s backup quarterback. 

• Young received a familiar skill reinforcement with the signing of receiver John Metchie III. Can Young’s main target from his 2021 Heisman Trophy-winning season at Alabama provide a spark? 

• Luke Fortner signed a one-year, $4.75 million deal to assume the starting center position after Cade Mayes bolted for the Detroit Lions.  

• With Wednesday’s unexpected retirement of Yosh Nijman and Ikem Ekwonu recovering from a ruptured patella tendon, one of Morgan’s main offseason missions is to reinforce the left tackle position. It started with the depth signing of Stone Forsythe for one year, $2 million. After yielding 11 sacks in 13 games with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, Forsythe ranked last among 89 tackles, according to PFF. 

Morgan on Friday also added a potential starter at left tackle, landing Rasheed Walker on a one-year deal that maxes out at $10 million. The former Green Bay Packers mainstay logged a 93.8% pass-block win rate last season, 11th best in the league. Morgan also could utilize the Panthers’ No. 19 overall draft pick to further stabilize the position.  

Internally, receiver David Moore, tight end James Mitchell, linebackers Thomas Incoom, Trevis Gipson and Claudin Cherelus; and defensive backs Isaiah Simmons, Robert Rochell and Akayleb Evans re-signed.

“We’re looking forward to putting a free agent plan together, setting the draft board and getting this thing going,” Morgan said.

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