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Panthers great gives seal of approval for team's big free-agent adds
TL;DR
The Carolina Panthers have made significant free-agent signings, including a four-year, $120 million deal for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. Former player Jonathan Stewart endorses these moves, highlighting their potential to enhance the team's defensive strategies.
The Carolina Panthers haven't gotten much love from the media for their free-agent moves. In fact, their biggest addition—a four-year, $120 million deal for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips—was listed amongst Bleacher Report's 10 worst signings this offseason.
But not everyone agrees that this was a total swing-and-a-miss session for Carolina.
Panthers all-time leading rusher Jonathan Stewart, for one, likes what he's seen—particularly with Phillips and Pro Bowl inside linebacker Devin Lloyd. Here's what the former running back told The Athletic about the latter:
"Getting up there on the line of scrimmage and you have A-gap or B-gap (disguise blitzes), and he’s capable of getting back into coverage. That’s a problem for quarterback(s)... Because now you can have your secondary get active when you have a guy like that, where you have him press and he drops into some soft coverage and you brink a slot (corner) off the edge. We haven’t really been able to get creative in the sense of disguise pressures and whatnot."
As Stewart mentioned, Lloyd is a versatile piece who will allow defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to draw up looks he hasn't been able to over the last few seasons with the Panthers. He's a force multiplier for a unit that desperately needed one.
Since Lloyd was picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he's impacted the game in every possible way—totaling nine career interceptions, 26 pass breakups, 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for a loss and 18 quarterback hits in 63 games. In addition to earning his first Pro Bowl nod for his efforts last season, he was also named a second-team All-Pro.
Lloyd will take a great deal of pressure off all three levels of Carolina's defense, and should serve as a more effective play-caller than anyone else they've fielded in recent years. The rest of the 2026 free agent class is up for debate, but this is one move that general manager Dan Morgan won't regret.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers great Jonathan Stewart approves team's big offseason signings
Q&A
What is the value of Jaelan Phillips' contract with the Carolina Panthers?
Jaelan Phillips signed a four-year contract worth $120 million with the Carolina Panthers.
Who is Jonathan Stewart and what does he think about the Panthers' free-agent signings?
Jonathan Stewart is the all-time leading rusher for the Panthers, and he supports the team's free-agent signings, particularly praising Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd for their potential impact on defense.
Why are the Panthers' free-agent moves receiving criticism from the media?
The Panthers' free-agent moves, including the signing of Jaelan Phillips, were criticized by the media, with some labeling them among the worst signings of the offseason.
