Ejiro Evero’s stock keeps rising, and 2026 could be the season that pushes the Panthers’ defense into a different tier.
For much of his first three years running Carolina’s defense, Evero had to make do with a thin margin for error. Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn were the only dependable pieces for long stretches, and that lack of steady talent kept the unit’s ceiling pretty low. That picture looks a lot different now.
The Panthers went into this offseason and added real help, signing pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd. Those moves, paired with a major jump from 2024 to 2025, are a big reason Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic included Evero among 32 assistant coaches she believes are set up for a breakout year.
Rodrigue wrote:
It might seem strange to include an assistant who has already drawn plenty of interest for head coaching vacancies over the last few years, but Evero and the Panthers’ defense have also been rebuilding with the hope that 2026 is a breakout year for everyone. Carolina’s secondary was a real success story in 2025, and this spring the team added legitimate talent at pass rusher and inside linebacker. Ejiro has also assembled a talented, smart defensive staff.
Evero’s name has come up in head-coaching searches every offseason, and he most recently interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders. He’s stayed put in Carolina, though, and the buzz around what this defense can become is only growing.
That’s a notable shift from 2024, when injuries piled up and the Panthers finished 32nd in overall defense while allowing the most points in league history. Evero helped steady things in 2025, guiding the unit to a 16th-place finish overall as Carolina won the NFC South.
If the Panthers take the next step the way Rodrigue expects, Evero could be on the move again in 2027 - and Carolina would be back in the market for a new defensive play-caller.
In Other News...
Panthers Hit With Another Brutal Camp Blow At The Worst Time
The Panthers had already spent part of the week talking about the future of their home, with David Tepper and Roger Goodell announcing a 20-year extension of the Bank of America naming-rights deal alongside the $1.3 billion stadium renovation that is expected to run through 2030. Goodell even raised the possibility of Charlotte becoming a future Super Bowl or NFL Draft host once the building work is done, a reminder that the franchise is trying to think big while its current roster is still taking shape.
Training camp, though, has been a much harsher reality check. Carolina opened practice with another key defender sidelined, and the injury pileup has already pushed more responsibility onto recent additions such as AJ Dillon, Luke Fortner and Monroe Freeling. With Jaycee Horn also missing time and Taylor Moton on reserve/non-football injury, the Panthers are suddenly asking a lot from the depth they added to stabilize the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Hit Another Breaking Point With Two More Starter Injuries
Training camp has already been a test of depth for Carolina, and the latest turn only adds to the strain. Starting right guard Robert Hunt and starting cornerback Mike Jackson were both limited by back tightness, leaving the Panthers to wait on further evaluation as head coach Dave Canales said each player will undergo full imaging.
The timing is especially awkward for a roster that is already juggling multiple key injuries on both sides of the ball. Carolina has been trying to piece together its offensive line without starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, while the defense has also absorbed setbacks involving Nic Scourton, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III and Jaycee Horn. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Already Face A Camp Depth Issue After Another Roster Shakeup
Training camp has already turned into a churn point for Carolina, with the Panthers making six roster moves as they try to keep enough bodies in place to get through practice. The latest wave brought in defensive linemen Elijah Garcia and Kyon Barrs along with defensive back DeCarlos Nicholson, while offensive tackle Derrell Bailey, linebacker Jared Bartlett and defensive back Mike Reid were waived to make room.
Carolina also claimed offensive tackle Ryan Hayes off waivers and moved on from undrafted wide receiver Kobe Prentice, another sign the depth chart is still being adjusted on the fly. The timing matters because the Panthers are already dealing with a pileup of injuries on defense, and the camp roster keeps changing as they try to protect themselves against further attrition. [Read more 🡒]