FA Splash: Panthers sign Jaelan Phillips EDGE

[ECHornet]

2 hours ago, NcPsa10 said:

The Carolina Panthers had a total of 82 hurries last season...Jaelan Phillips had 60…

 

• Carolina's 2025 Struggles: The Panthers defense finished "dead last" in total pressures during the 2025 season. The entire team combined for only 82 quarterback hurries.

 

• Phillips' 2025 Production: Between his time with the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles, Phillips recorded 60 hurries individually, ranking him among the top 5 in the NFL for that metric.

-Panthers worst in league in total pressures

-Panthers sign best pressure rate defender available 

-Panthers (some) fans meltdown

I do appreciate the many logical fans (like NcPsa10) who see the common sense approach in this signing. The $ is high, but that’s the going rate for a difference maker these days. 

[SmokinwithWilly]

26 minutes ago, Tomcatn said:

What are they planning to do with Wharton?

Paperweight on Dave's desk?

[Swaggasaurus]

I love Phillips, but thought was an overpay. But the Oweh contract makes this look better. In order to improve we needed a guaranteed improvement in the pass rush. We got our guy, didn’t leave the bar with the 6 (Wharton) this time

[KatsAzz]

Sorrt of a high price sign. I suppose time will tell how good this signing was.

[jfra78]

5 hours ago, shaq said:

I need some opinions on this I am not sure how to feel on one side he is only 26 and pretty well regarded. On the other hand he’s injury prone and his highest sack total was 8.5 and that was his rookie year.

He also had the 4th highest pressure rate at 18.something percent

[strato]

He was in top 5 FA lists. I saw one where they had him at 2. 
 

If he can stay healthy we will probably be happy about this one. 

[Basbear]

45 minutes ago, ECHornet said:

-Panthers worst in league in total pressures

-Panthers sign best pressure rate defender available 

-Panthers (some) fans meltdown

I do appreciate the many logical fans (like NcPsa10) who see the common sense approach in this signing. The $ is high, but that’s the going rate for a difference maker these days. 

bro, its not his ACL or Achilles or ankles or core tear. its his concussion history.....the one in which he already left football cause. 

its super risky when signing a player with a history of back, spine, brain injuries....

I love that he's a top pressure getter, I hope he's able to stay healthy.....that's the deal, huge risk.

[LinvilleGorge]

From the biggest, most knowledgeable Eagles fan I know

[TheSpecialJuan]

Panthers sign edge Jaelan Phillips

Terms: Four years, $120 million

Grade: B-

The Panthers needed edge help and decided to pay up to get it. They landed Phillips to improve a unit that ranked 24th in pass rush win rate and 32nd in run stop win rate last season.

Phillips should be an asset in both areas. The former Dolphin and Eagle has never had a double-digit sack season but clearly makes an impact as an edge rusher. Injuries derailed his early career in Miami: a torn Achilles in 2023 and a partially torn ACL in 2024 set him back. But he was effective again last season between Miami and Philadelphia and, critically, played 17 games. Phillips ranked in the 92nd percentile in pressure rate and 55th percentile in pass rush win rate and run stop win rate at edge.

At 27 years old, the Panthers are getting Phillips in the prime of his career, and he fills a major need. Nic Scourton showed promise as a rookie, but they need an edge opposite him. D.J. Wonnum, who ranked in the 12th percentile in pass rush win rate at edge last season, is a free agent.

At $30 million per year, this is a big contract, but it's not the top of the market. Accounting for cap inflation, Phillips' deal is the 26th highest in terms of APY by an edge rusher since 2015, per OverTheCap.com.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47911726/2026-nfl-free-agency-grades-signings-trades-latest-best-worst-deals-draft-outlook