Are the Carolina Panthers Done Improving Their Linebacker Room?

Sep 7, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA;Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) looks on after a game against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

They say defense wins championships, and right now the Carolina Panthers are beefing up their defense to push for a run to the Super Bowl. During free agency, Panthers GM Dan Morgan swooped in and grabbed linebackers Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips. He signed the latter to a record four-year, $120M deal. Now, with the NFL Draft looming, the Panthers have the option to add another elite linebacker in Jacob Rodriguez. In doing so, they could make their linebacker room the best in the NFL.

Panthers’ Current Linebacker Room

With the addition of Phillips and Lloyd, the Panthers linebacker unit is stacked with young talent. Lloyd (27) is the oldest of the main linebacker corps, but he is arguably in the prime of his career. Last season, he racked up five interceptions, which was tied for first in the league among linebackers.

Phillips (26) comes with a hefty price tag, but the Panthers’ staff and Morgan are high on his physical and leadership potential. Phillips’ primary role is a pocket-disrupter. Per PFF, he finished ninth in the league last season in total pressures. Panther’s fans hope that this year he records his first 10-sack season, silencing his critics in the process.

In addition to the two free agency signings, Carolina retained Nic Scourton, who led the Panthers defense with five sacks as a rookie in 2025. Scourton is primed for a breakout sophomore season and should become a bona fide starter.

Two other young linebackers to keep an eye on are Princely Umanmielen and Trevin Wallace. Umanmielen, a 2025 third-round pick, had 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble last year, mostly playing as a backup. Wallace, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in December, enters 2026 looking to shake off the injuries that have plagued him through his first two seasons in the NFL. When healthy, he can be yet another dangerous piece of this linebacker room.

Drafting a Linebacker — the Jacob Rodriguez Case

Despite all of the potential talent and depth already in Carolina’s linebacker corps, the Panthers may be picking up another elite linebacker in the draft. If there is one criticism of the Panthers’ linebackers, it would be their injury history. Phillips and Wallace, especially, have been plagued by various injuries through the years. Due to this reason, the Panthers may be looking to add another linebacker. Signs are pointing to them drafting Texas Tech star Jacob Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is a popular name in the Panthers’ wheelhouse. At the Combine, he revealed he had visited with Panthers staff twice during the event. Dan Morgan even flew out to Texas Tech’s pro day and was spotted chatting with Rodriguez there. Then, on a recent podcast, the Panthers’ greatest ever linebacker, Luke Kuechly himself, said that Rodriguez was his favorite linebacker in the draft.

There is obviously a lot of admiration within the Panthers organization for Rodriguez. While most mock drafts have Rodriguez going in the second round, the Panthers will have a difficult decision to make. Do they wait for him to fall to them at the 51st pick, or do they trade up and select him earlier in the second round?

If the Panthers are able to add Rodriguez to their ranks, opposing coaches will have yet another dangerous Panther linebacker to contend with for the upcoming season.

But with or without Rodriguez, it’s safe to say that after several years of mediocracy, the Panthers’ linebacker unit is officially back!

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