TheSpecialJuan

Winners Carolina Panthers No team made a bigger splash than the Panthers during the opening window of free agency. Carolina began by agreeing to terms with edge defender Jaelan Phillips on a four-year, $120 million deal, snatching the highly touted pass rusher from the Eagles, whom they acquired at the 2025 trade deadline for a third-round pick. Carolina was quiet for much of the day to follow but closed out the night with another blockbuster signing, bringing in All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd on a three-year, $45 million deal. While the deal to acquire Phillips is a risk because of his extensive injury history, the team's need for a high-caliber pass rusher was evident. This past season, Carolina finished 31st in PFF pass-rush grade (60.5) and pressure rate (30.3%). Although Phillips missed significant portions of the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, he’s undoubtedly a potent pass rusher when healthy, ranking in the 91st percentile in pass-rush win rate (16.8%) over the past four seasons. Carolina’s young pass rushers, Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, can learn a lot from the new addition as they head into year two. Jaelan Phillips' Stable Pass-Rush Metrics (2022-2025) Lloyd, the third-highest-graded linebacker in the NFL last season, profiles as a strong center piece for a Panthers defense that struggled mightily at the position, failing to field a single player with a PFF overall grade above 55.0. The former Jaguar’s all-around game resulted in PFF grades above 80.0 in each major defensive facet in 2025. https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2026-nfl-free-agency-winners-losers-legal-tampering-period

good for him

Fun fact: Metchie was born in Taiwan

Its clear we're attempting to upgrade at the TE position. Njoku, Goedert, Jonnu Smith are all substantial upgrades

spot on

https://x.com/adamschefter/status/2031830355972423985?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

interesting we haven't brought back LB Claudin Cherelus

per twitter

He just said Bradley Chubb will sign with Bills. We'll see if he's right

wouldn't mind it

Mentioned Panthers would now pivot to David Njoku or Dallas Goedert

Chig Okonkwo WASTight End#85 Commanders agreed to terms with TE Chig Oknokwo, formerly of the Titans, on a three-year contract. It’s possible depending on how deep the Commanders wideout room is and how the (seemingly inevitable) Brandon Aiyuk signing works out that Okonkwo could be a featured player for the pass offense in 2026. But after four years failing to crack 600 yards, we’re skeptical that it will happen in a new arena. He’ll likely remain a mid-range fantasy TE2 for the Commanders. It’s a good real-life signing given the fact that Zach Ertz hit free agency with an ACL tear, however.

It seems like the #Panthers are out on N’joku. https://x.com/dixonsydernfl/status/2031741807227281885?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Lots of teams in on Njoku currently…expect a signing soon Top 5 teams to watch; #Eagles, #Commanders, #Bengals, #Dolphins, and #Broncos. The former Browns Superstar is expected to sign a multi year deal projected at 3 Years 29 Million. https://x.com/rickeyjrscoops/status/2031730904390095025?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Great stuff here. I could see DJ Reader, Roger McCreary, Josh Jones, Brady Christensen being realistic possibilities

I am hearing any one of: Okonkwo, N'joku, Goedert All just depends on how the dominoes fall. https://x.com/dixonsydernfl/status/2031730206122070467?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

JUST IN: The TE market should be moving along today, per league source Watch out for the #Panthers, #Bengals, #Commanders, and #Dolphins https://x.com/dixonsydernfl/status/2031729096665747704?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Carolina Panthers Free Agency Moves so far: Signed: LB Devin Lloyd EDGE Jaelan Phillips QB Kenny Pickett C Luke Fortner OT Stone Forsythe Re-Signed: S Isaiah Simmons WR David Moore CB Aykaleb Evans CB Robert Rochell DL LaBryan Ray EDGE Thomas Incoom Released: DL A’Shawn Robinson DL Popo Aumavae

The #Panthers converted $16.9M of DL Derrick Brown's salary into signing bonus, adding 2 void years, clearing $13.5M of cap space in 2026. Updated Cap Hits 2026: $10.9M 2027: $31.3M 2028: $32.3M 2029: $6.6M (void) https://x.com/spotrac/status/2031680161649676344?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

Additionally, the #Panthers are also one of the teams interested in TE Dallas Goedert I’m also hearing the #Eagles would like to retain him https://x.com/dixonsydernfl/status/2031547916142227863?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA

great stuff, man

This signing is noteworthy due to Ikem Ekwonu’s recovery from a ruptured patellar tendon. The Panthers could draft an OT. But Forsythe could be called upon to play early in the year, as well. https://x.com/jfowlerespn/status/2031538785507271100?s=46&t=xeIgh_-Vr2aKxBkBJdfnKA