Dan Orlovsky isn’t buying the idea that the Carolina Panthers’ defense tops out as merely a top-10 group.
That might even be selling it short.
Carolina has spent the offseason reshaping that side of the ball, and the result looks far stronger on paper than the 2025 version. The headline additions were off-ball linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, two moves that add to a defense already carrying real talent. Up front, Derrick Brown anchors the line, while Jayce Horn and Mike Jackson give the Panthers a cornerback pairing that stands out.
That’s why the conversation around Carolina has started to move beyond “improved” and into “potentially dangerous.” Orlovsky went there, too, while talking through what could make this group one of the biggest jumps in football.
He had plenty of praise for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, saying, "Ejiro is so impressive when you sit with him for games."
Orlovsky was just as high on the personnel, pointing to Horn’s ball skills and Jackson’s physical style. But for him, the whole thing still comes back to the edge. If the Panthers are going to turn all that talent into something truly special, the pressure has to show up there first.
"I think it really comes down to Scourton and Phillips... If they can be somewhat impactful as edge rushers, I think this has the chance to be a top 5 defense in the NFL."
That’s the real swing factor. Carolina’s 2025 defense was solid enough overall, finishing 16th in total defense, but the pass rush dragged the unit down. The Panthers were the worst team in the league in pass rush production and finished in the bottom three in both QB hits and total sacks.
Phillips has to justify the contract he signed, and if he does, that should help create cleaner opportunities for Scourton as well. The hope is that offenses tilt their protection toward Phillips, leaving Scourton with more chances to get home on his own.
And even when the sacks don’t come, pressure still changes the game. If Phillips and Scourton can force quarterbacks off their spots more consistently, the rest of Carolina’s defense should benefit right along with them. That’s the path to a much better unit - and, if Orlovsky is right, maybe one that belongs even higher than top 10.
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