March 19, 2026, 3:50 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
Devin Lloyd is now a different kind of cat.<\/p>\n
The new Carolina Panthers<\/a> inside linebacker chatted with reporters for the first time since signing<\/a> his three-year, $42 million contract. The wheels towards that deal were set into motion last spring when the Jacksonville Jaguars declined the fifth-year option on Lloyd, who talked about the reality of that moment on Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n “Whenever I found out the news, it was just more so\u2014at this point, now I know this is effectively a one-year prove-it deal,” he said of Jacksonville’s decision. “It was more so just me understanding, like, okay, after this year, I’m gonna be a free agent.”<\/p>\n Well, Lloyd proved himself\u2014posting 81 combined tackles along with career-highs in pressures (28) and interceptions (five). The 2022 first-round pick, for those efforts, was named a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro for the first time in his career in 2025.<\/p>\n He was later asked if the Jaguars had interest in re-signing him this offseason.<\/p>\n Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n “Um . . . there was an offer on the table,” Lloyd simply responded.<\/p>\n Lloyd, at $14 million per season, is now the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid inside linebacker entering the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n Follow our\u00a0free agency tracker<\/a>\u00a0for all the latest moves.<\/p>\n