The Carolina Panthers have a clear expectation for Jaelan Phillips, and Phillips has a clear expectation for himself.
After signing a four-year, $120 million deal to join Carolina, the new edge rusher is already talking about what he wants to bring to the defense in 2026. With the Panthers back in training camp after their early report date and coming off an NFC South division title a year ago, Phillips says he wants to be the kind of player who changes games.
“Just trying to come in and be a disruptive player,” Phillips said. “Play my brand of football, I've always been a high effort guy, always been someone who is going to get after it down in and down out.
So that's what I plan on doing here. I hoping to increase production and be a real turning piece to this defense.”
He doubled down on that message when asked about the next step in his game.
“Next level for me is to get the production levels up. . . Taking everything up a notch really from the effort stand point to a production standpoint. I'm just trying to turn up and go crazy.”
Phillips also said he wants to grow into a leadership role and help set the tone for the defense with his energy.
That urgency matters even more now that Nic Scourton is being lost for the season. Phillips was already expected to play a major role for Carolina, but the pressure on him only rises with that news.
The Panthers made Phillips one of their major offseason additions, targeting him early as they tried to improve both sides of the ball through free agency and the draft. He was the top edge rusher on the market, and Carolina paid accordingly.
The production has to follow. Phillips’ best sack season came in 2021, when he had 8.5 as a rookie.
Last season, he finished with five while splitting time between the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. For Carolina, that kind of number would fall short of what they’re paying for.
Now the Panthers are banking on Phillips to help lift a pass rush they want to become dominant.
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Panthers Suddenly Have A New Name To Watch Off The Edge
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