Carolina Panthers' Free Agency Boil's Up Stars in Competitive Chase
Where did fans grade the Carolina Panthers top two signings?
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Dan Morgan came out swinging in free agenct this offseason, signing two of the top free agents in the 2026 class who also happened to meet at the surprising nexus of positional need and scheme fit. Of course, doing so involved committing up to $165M over the next four years to just Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd.
When asked, Panthers fans were rather more positive about Lloyd’s deal than Phillips. It’s an easy bet to say that a lot of fans are worried about Phillips’ injury history and limited production. Morgan signed Phillips to a four-year, $120M deal despite Phillips only finishing three of his five seasons and never posting double digit sacks in a single season.
The Panthers attacked the free agent market that existed, but it is an open question as to whether or not they did enough to hold on to their tenuous position atop the NFC South. You can check out their odds to stay on top here .