April 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nMorgan has not been shy about throwing money at problem spots in free agency. In Morgan\u2019s first year as GM, the former Panthers linebacker spent big on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, who have helped solidify the protection for quarterback Bryce Young.<\/p>\n
After being outbid for defensive lineman Milton Williams last year, Morgan spread the free-agent dollars among several players, most notably safety Tre\u2019von Moehrig. Morgan attacked the front seven this year with a four-year, $120 million deal for Phillips and a three-year, $41.9 million contract for Lloyd. The Athletic had Phillips and Lloyd had ranked among the top three free agents at all positions.<\/p>\n
Former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart believes Phillips and Lloyd can do for the defense what Hunt and Lewis did for the offense in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved the Devin Lloyd (acquisition). I loved getting Phillips in here, spending some money,\u201d Stewart said at Scott\u2019s golf event. \u201cI look back at what changed the offense, (it) was going all-in on two guards two years ago. So putting the emphasis on getting some anchors on defense that not only can give you a spark, but gives you a DNA, a little bit of a backbone as far as what guys can expect.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers paid a lot for Phillips, who hasn\u2019t had more than seven sacks since an 8.5-sack season as a rookie in 2021. But Phillips has still left in mark in opponents\u2019 backfields. He ranks in the 91st percentile in pass-rush win rate (16.8 percent) over the past four seasons, according to Pro Football Focus.<\/p>\n
And he had multiple quarterback pressures in 15 consecutive games last year, a stretch that spanned his midseason trade from Miami to Philadelphia. Only three players in the league have longer active streaks in that category.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not just a guy that\u2019s gonna get you sacks. He\u2019s gonna be a guy that\u2019s gonna be a motor,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna provide not just getting to the quarterback, but pressure on a quarterback, get the ball out. But not just that \u2013 he\u2019s a presence in the run game. He\u2019s a presence when the ball\u2019s away from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
With All-Pro defensive tackle Derrick Brown back last year after missing 16 games in 2024, the Panthers defense jumped from last in the league in total defense two years ago to 16th.<\/p>\n
But Stewart believes the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Lloyd gives the Panthers something they didn\u2019t have in Ejiro Evero\u2019s first three seasons as defensive coordinator \u2013 an athletic linebacker who can blitz or drop back in coverage (the latter evidenced by his five interceptions last year in Jacksonville). That versatility should allow Evero to get creative.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting up there on the line of scrimmage and you have A-gap or B-gap (disguise blitzes), and he\u2019s capable of getting back into coverage. That\u2019s a problem for quarterback(s),\u201d Stewart said. \u201cBecause now you can have your secondary get active when you have a guy like that, where you have him press and he drops into some soft coverage and you brink a slot (corner) off the edge. We haven\u2019t really been able to get creative in the sense of disguise pressures and whatnot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scott has played for Evero for five of his seven NFL seasons, beginning with the Los Angeles Rams. He said the defensive coordinator has a knack for putting his players in a position to flourish.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo just seeing guys like Devin and Jaelan get picked up, I can only imagine how his wheels are turning. You see what he did with Tre Moehrig. That to me is indicative of a guy that knows the game, a guy that knows his players and knows how to put them in positions to be successful,\u201d said Scott, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal after finishing with a career-high 111 tackles in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause (Moehrig) is doing what no other safety is doing in the league, playing on all three levels of the defense,\u201d Scott added. \u201cSo that\u2019s a testament to (Evero), and I\u2019m really excited about what he\u2019s got for those new guys coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Besides the moves on defense, the Panthers also signed former Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker to fill in for the injured Ikem Ekwonu and made a switch at backup quarterback, bringing in Kenny Pickett and trading Andy Dalton to Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
They also added former Alabama receiver John Metchie III, who caught 96 passes from Young for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns during the quarterback\u2019s Heisman Trophy season, in 2021, but has yet to find his NFL footing. Stewart is hopeful the two can rediscover the chemistry they had in Tuscaloosa, Ala..<\/p>\n
Metchie was among the receivers and tight ends who joined Young this month in California for passing sessions at a training facility near Young\u2019s offseason home. Like Stewart, Coker talked about chemistry when discussing the workouts and the time spent together afterward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just a good time to have a little camaraderie, catch some footballs, hang out after,\u201d Coker said. \u201cJust to build that chemistry, you can never have too much of that.\u201d<\/p>\n