Jaelan Phillips leaves no doubt about his decision to join an ascending team in the Carolina Panthers after hitting free agency
The Carolina Panthers were equally excited about finally landing an impact pass rusher.
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan let the big fish off the line last offseason when top free agent defensive tackle Milton Williams flipped his commitment to the New England Patriots leaving Carolina to scramble building a defensive line that produced results Morgan himself deemed “not acceptable.”
This time around, Morgan wasn’t going to get out-bid for a top pass rusher and moved quick last Monday to agree to terms on a deal with former Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. For the first time since the signing was announced, we’ve heard from Phillips and learned the interest was mutual beyond the sizable price tag.
Jaelan Phillips is excited to join an ascending team in the Carolina Panthers
“Honestly, it was a no-brainer,” Phillips said on Good Morning Football. “I have a lot of respect for the Panthers organization and what they were able to accomplish last year. Obviously, I played against them earlier in the season and they came back from like 21-0 and came back and beat us. They showed their grit, their determination. Seeing what they did and talking to the coaches afterwards, I’m just really excited to come in. It’s an organization that’s on the rise, we have a lot of great young pieces on the defense and the offense. Everything is trending upwards and I’m grateful I can be a part of it.”
The Panthers faced Phillips while he was on the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, prior to his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles, and it was actually a 17-0 comeback for Carolina. Regardless, it was a lasting impression for Phillips, who notched a sack in that game against his new quarterback Bryce Young.
From afar, Phillips watched as the Panthers went on to win the NFC South and give the Los Angeles Rams a respectable fight in the postseason. The Panthers are truly an ascending team that top free agents want to be a part of, and getting offered four-year, $120 million deal makes it an easy decision.
“They [the Philadelphia Eagles] definitely wanted me to come back and I knew after the season that they were going to make a push,” Phillips explained. “But, ultimately, the Panthers came with a more attractive offer and clearly that just shows the belief they have in me and the belief they have in the team around to invest in pieces to try and take this team to the next level.”
It’s not hard to find Jaelan Phillips’ place within the Panthers defense
Finding an impact pass rusher was paramount for the Panthers totaling just 30.0 sacks during the 2025 season with defensive tackle Derrick Brown and rookie edge rusher Nic Scourton co-leading the team with 5.0 sacks apiece. The Panthers are paying Phillips to be an elite edge rusher and gambling that he can step into those shoes despite setting a career-high 8.5 sacks during his rookie year in 2021.
“I do want to get those sack numbers up,” Phillips said. “I’ve always known that I can be a 10+, 13+ sack guy. To be able to come, really for my own personal goals and what I want to accomplish in this league too, I want to establish myself as one of the top top elite guys. I think parts of my game are elite and I think it’s just bringing it all into one. I think that’s a misconception, but everybody knows if you watch me play, if you see the stats and the in-game disruption, you know that I try to do a good job and I do make an impact on the field. I’m just going to continue to keep trying to do that and keep elevating my game in any way.”
Playing alongside Scourton and another 2025 rookie in Princely Umanmielen, Phillips will also be asked to be a leader in the edge rusher room and another prominent player for that unit with Brown being the main voice for the entire front.
“I think them two in particular are super talented young guys,” Phillips said of Scourton and Umanmielen. “I’ve saw them jumping out on film a lot last year when I was doing film study. I’m just excited to come in. Obviously, I’m not a 10 or 15 year vet but I’ve played in this league a fair amount and have good experience. I think I can come in and help contribute from whether it’s a mental standpoint or just whatever guidance they need. I’m sure they’re going to help me out with a lot of things too. I’m just excited to get in that room and start building that bond with the guys.”
Saying this is an important signing is putting it lightly. The Panthers made a significant investment bringing in Phillips and made a big gamble that this addition will make an immediate difference.
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