![\"Devin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Devin-Lloyd-2-e1775145215491.jpg\")
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New Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd.<\/p>\n
While the Carolina Panthers<\/a> paid handsomely for Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips, you\u2019d think their stats and highlights served as the impetus. However, general manager Dan Morgan<\/a> flipped that notion on its ear when he outlined the trait that they share, making them signable. Morgan spoke at the annual owners\u2019 meetings, covered by The Athletic.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe former Carolina linebacker has looked for players with specific attributes. Those include versatility, physicality, high effort, high character, and length, which to Morgan refers more to arm length than height. The long and short of it: \u201cI think if all things are equal, we\u2019re always probably going to go for the longer, bigger guy over the smaller (one),\u201d Morgan said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCarolina is lurking in several markets, likely seeking pass-rush and linebacker help. Players such as edge rusher Odafe Oweh and linebacker Devin Lloyd are considered good fits for the Panthers\u2019 defensive scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfd\ufe0fLloyd\u2019s 5 INT tied for the most among off-ball LB in 2025. https:\/\/t.co\/FmHThffzJa<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lhG8hXQp8E<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js<\/a><\/p>\n Morgan\u2019s Arm Length Search Theory Started in Seattle<\/p>\n As a member of the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> front office, Morgan learned<\/a> at the knee of general manager John Schneider. As a result, look at who the Seahawks pursue in the draft and free agency. For instance, the Seahawks assembled the Legion of Doom\u201d defense on the strength of their long-limbed draft picks. For example, while Bobby Wagner stood out during his tenure at Utah State, his 33-inch arms gave him the space to disengage from blocks and make plays.<\/p>\n On top of that, Richard Sherman became a third-round pick. Sherman\u2019s 4.53 time in the 40-yard dash became a hanging albatross . Yet, Seattle took a flyer and was rewarded with 32 interceptions<\/a> in Seattle, three All-Pro nods, and three Pro Bowl appearances.<\/p>\n Likewise, KJ Wright\u2019s name didn\u2019t capture the public\u2019s attention. Moreover, a linebacker who runs a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash. However, the brain trust looked past the stopwatch. Wright started 140 games for Seattle, making a Pro Bowl, recording six 90-tackle seasons.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Execution of Morgan\u2019s Theory Produces Results<\/p>\n The Panthers\u2019 general manager sees levers as a way of condensing the 100-yard field.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I\u2019m sitting up there and I\u2019m looking out on the field,\u201d he said, \u201cthey kind of make the field shrink and make the field seem smaller than what it really is when you have guys that are bigger and longer out there as opposed to shorter, n-typer type guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Phillips\u2019 arm measures 33.25 inches. As a pass rusher who wants to use explosion and agility, arm length opens doors. First, moves like the swim will keep the edge rusher clean. Phillips can convert speed to power. Yet, that will never be the main tool in his repertoire. Keeping a blocker\u2019s hands off his chest provides Phillips the daylight he needs to be successful. In turn, the Panthers definitely need that to become a habit.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Irony of Arm Choice Isn\u2019t Lost on Morgan<\/p>\n Morgan, as a former starting middle linebacker for the Panthers, sees the irony in the situation.<\/p>\n \u201c (Luke) Kuechly only had like 31 and some change arms. I only had like 31(-inch) arms,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cSo that\u2019s not to say I wouldn\u2019t take a linebacker (with short arms), but you have to have those other factors.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, 2025 Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly would not meet the arm-length standards set by Morgan. Still, he managed to establish an elite career.<\/p>\n Now, he will bank on his two newest defensive additions to help the Panthers defend their NFC South championship.<\/p>\n GettyPanthers pass rusher Jaelan Phillips<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTerrance Biggs<\/a> Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Panthers\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty New Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd. While the Carolina Panthers paid handsomely for Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":850691,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2075],"tags":[235,260,2567,7,6,236],"class_list":{"0":"post-850690","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-carolina-panthers","8":"tag-carolina","9":"tag-carolina-panthers","10":"tag-carolinapanthers","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-nfl","13":"tag-panthers"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116338900459596298","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=850690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850690\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/850691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=850690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=850690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=850690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Jaelan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jaelan-Phillips.jpg\")
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\nHe is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n