Breaking Down the Panthers Big Offseason Signings and Their 2026 Draft Implications
The Panthers came out swinging to start free agency. They had seven million coming into free agency, but Vice President Brandt Tillis showed his cap management skills. General Manager Dan Morgan did his job recruiting and signing top free agents. They released A’Shawn Robison and restructured Derrick Brown’s contract, freeing up $23 million in cap space. Together, Tillis and Morgan have transformed the Panthers' front office. Carolina is here to compete. Let’s look at the crucial signings and what they mean for the 19th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The New Guys
Jaelen Phillips was confirmed to the Panthers on March 9th, the start of the NFL’s legal tampering window. His deal was finalized at the beginning of free agency. Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million contract, with $80 million guaranteed and a $35 million signing bonus. Most of his 2026 salary comes in the signing bonus, so his cap hit is only nine million. Next year, his salary jumps to $32 million. Phillips should contribute immediately to defense and fits well in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s scheme. The Panthers needed help on the edge. A veteran who can produce will be valuable on the field and in developing young pass rushers.
The biggest knock against the former Miami Dolphin is his long and storied injury history. Starting in college, Phillips medically retired at UCLA due to various injuries, including concussions and being struck by a car. The next year, the former Bruin decided to play again, this time in Miami as a Hurricane. Sitting out all of 2019, Phillips was the starter in 2020, where he revitalized his career. The Dolphins took him with the 18th pick of the 2021 draft. Phillips was off to a hot start in Miami, playing all 17 games of his rookie season and being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. 2022 was another successful year for the former Hurricane as he became the starter at outside linebacker. Unfortunately, the injury bug struck Phillips again. He tore his Achilles tendon in 2023 and ended his season early in 2024 with a knee injury. He returned to action in 2025, when the Dolphins traded him in-season to the Eagles. Phillips had his best season as a pro, playing all 17 games. Viewed as one of the best free agents, the Panthers jumped at their chance to land an essential piece that their defense has been missing.
Carolina pulled off another surprise signing late into day one of the league tampering window. Addressing their linebacker room, they landed another essential piece in Devin Lloyd. Lloyd spent four years in Jacksonville, where he improved each season. 2025 was a career year for the former Jaguar, highlighted by his first Pro-Bowl selection. The two parties agreed to a three-year $40 million contract with $25 million guaranteed. At an average annual salary of $15 million, the contract is great for both sides. Lloyd will immediately have an impact in the linebacker room. The middle of the field has been a weak spot for the Panthers. Lloyd will be essential in Evero’s scheme as he is great at coverage. In 2025, Lloyd had 74 combined tackles, five interceptions, a sack, 24 quarterback pressures, allowed only 25 receptions, and gave up no touchdowns. Aside from playing well in coverage, he was also involved in the pass rush, getting 95 snaps there. A highly instinctive, do-it-all linebacker, he has the potential to be a game-changing force for the defense.
To round out the essential signings is Rasheed Walker. With starter Ikem Ekwonu suffering a ruptured patellar tendon and his backup, Yosh Nijman, retiring, the Panthers were extremely thin at tackle. Managing to snag Walker on a one-year $10 million contract is an amazing stopgap for 2026. While the future is still very much in the air at the position, Walker will fill the immediate need. He excels at pass blocking, which will be essential for the Panthers to have offensive success. Franchise quarterback Bryce Young had his best season as a passer last year and will look to stack on that momentum. Keeping him safe is the key. Walker will be a day-one starter and will immediately impact the offense.
The Panthers also locked up some good depth pieces. Starting with backup quarterback Kenny Pickett on a one-year, four-million-dollar deal. Current backup Andy Dalton has clearly slowed down, and 2025 showed how crucial a decent backup is. Pickett will fit in nicely, giving the team more firepower if Young goes down for any reason, especially at the price. Targeting the receiver room, John Metchie signed a one-year, $1.9 million deal. Despite flashes of potential, Metchie has yet to fully deliver, finding himself mostly in a depth role across the league. In Carolina, Metchie will add some much-needed depth at the wide receiver three position. Outside of two receivers, the Panthers’ receiving room has been mostly lackluster. Metchie is likely to get a few opportunities to showcase his skills and, in the best-case scenario, carve out a future in Carolina.
The 2026 Draft
Before free agency, the Panthers had many options for the 19th pick. After securing two of their biggest future needs, their options have become much clearer. Walker is only on a one-year deal, and we don’t know what Ekwonu will look like once he returns from injury. Securing a young tackle would be a good move right now and for the future. The tackle will have time to develop behind a veteran and learn from other veterans already on the line. The biggest issue will be who’s available at 19. The elite tackles will be gone by then, leaving options that might be better taken later in the draft.
The other option would be a defensive lineman. Most pre-free agency mock drafts already had Carolina taking a defensive lineman. A defensive interior would complete their line alongside Brown and Tershawn Wharton. Another big body would make the Panthers one of the best run-stopping teams. I feel like a DI would be the way to go here if it weren’t for the other problem plaguing the offensive line.
Cade Mays walked in free agency, leaving the Panthers thin at center. Mays wasn’t the starting center to start the season, but he worked his way into the starting role. Without Mays, Austin Corbett will reclaim his role as the starting center. With Corbett at center, the offense looked worse. If an offensive lineman isn’t taken, the coaching staff believes Corbett will get the job done. Still, an opportunity to lock up a young, dynamic lineman would be too good to pass up.
The luxury option would be to draft a skilled player, either a receiver or a tight end. The Panthers could trade up in the draft. There are players worth trading up for in this draft, but they are just in the top 10 or 15. If one of these players should fall far enough, then it would certainly be worth it. The draft is usually chaotic, and day one can be the most chaotic. Anything and everything can drastically change on draft night alone, not to mention what else might be brewing behind the scenes.
