NFL free agency is off and running, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2026 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts.
Teams can negotiate with free agents as of Monday at Noon ET, and signings can become official with the start of the new league year on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 on ESPN.
Here’s a breakdown of every 2026 NFL free agent signing by the Carolina Panthers and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Carolina and the former Eagle have agreed to a four-year, $120 million deal with $80 million in guarantees.
What it means: General manager Dan Morgan said he would be aggressive in his pursuit of an edge rusher. He said the quarterback pressure was “not acceptable” in 2025. Phillips is an immediate upgrade. He has only 28 sacks in seven seasons, but he ranked ninth in quarterback pressures in 2025 with 73. He is disruptive. Phillips was successful last season for Eagles DC Vic Fangio, who runs a 3-4 scheme similar to Carolina’s with the flexibility to move to a 4-3. He is 26, so he can grow within the scheme. This was a big move for Morgan.
