The Panthers went into the offseason looking like they had finally put a real dent in one of their biggest problem spots. Dan Morgan handed Jaelan Phillips a four-year, $120 million deal, bringing in a five-year veteran who was among the most sought-after pass rushers on the market.
That move made plenty of sense on its own. Phillips, the former first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins who spent the second half of 2025 with the Philadelphia Eagles, was supposed to pair with Nic Scourton and give Carolina a much-needed boost off the edge.
Scourton, Carolina’s second-round pick in 2025 and the Panthers’ co-leader in sacks this past season, was part of the plan too. The issue is that plan never got rolling the way the Panthers wanted.
Once training camp opened, Scourton suffered a torn ACL, and suddenly the room looked a lot thinner.
Patrick Jones II is still there, though he played in only four games in his first season with Carolina. Devin Lloyd, a newcomer and first-time Pro Bowler with the Jaguars this past season, has shown some ability to rush the passer as well. Even with those pieces, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero could clearly use more help putting pressure on quarterbacks.
That’s why Josh Sweat is a name worth watching. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report put together a list of eight players who could be traded before the start of the 2026 regular season, which is now just 19 days away, and Sweat was on it. The eight-year defender won a Pro Bowl nod and a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles and now is in Arizona.
“The Arizona Cardinals are in a weird spot with Josh Sweat,” said Moton. “They placed him on the physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury after he skipped organized team activities and then attended mandatory minicamp without participation. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Sweat told the team he’s unhappy.”
The Cardinals, though, are saying something different. Monti Ossenfort pushed back hard on the idea that Sweat is available.
#AZCardinals GM Monti Ossenfort on the rumors that OLB Josh Sweat had asked for a trade:"There is always a lot of talk around that. We have no interest in trading Josh.
Some of those discussions we will keep private. We are excited to have Josh here."
Still, the fit is easy to see from Carolina’s side. Sweat is coming off an age-28 season in which he posted a career-high 12 sacks, and the Panthers’ pass rush took a hit with Scourton’s injury. The catch is that if Arizona were to even entertain moving him, Carolina would likely have to pay a steep price.
For now, the Cardinals are insisting Sweat isn’t going anywhere. But in the NFL, that rarely shuts the door completely, which is why the Panthers would be wise to keep watching.
In Other News...
Panthers Face A Risky Haynes King Decision They Could Regret
As the Panthers move through their roster cuts, Haynes King has become one of those preseason names that can linger because of what he might eventually offer rather than what he has already shown. He has only appeared in the Hall of Fame Game so far, and his injury recovery has kept him from building much of a rsum in camp, but the appeal is obvious enough: a quarterback with enough versatility to be used in different offensive looks and enough short-yardage value to matter in a tight game.
That makes his spot a tricky one to judge, because the Panthers are weighing immediate roster math against the risk of letting a useful player get away before he has a chance to prove it. If they move on now, it would be easy to see how the decision could be revisited later if his development continues and another team is willing to bet on the same upside Carolina is trying to measure. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Face A Risky QB Debate Behind Bryce Young
The Panthers continue to operate as if Bryce Young is the quarterback to build around, and that certainty shapes everything else in the room behind him. With the team still sorting out how to support Young, the temptation to chase another name has surfaced in the usual offseason way, with Carolina linked to possible quarterback trade chatter involving Mac Jones and J.J. McCarthy.
But the case against making a move is pretty straightforward: the Panthers already have bodies behind Young, including Haynes King and Kenny Pickett, and there is enough uncertainty around the starters long-term setup without adding another layer to it. For now, the smarter play looks like patience, keeping the current quarterback group intact until Carolina has a clearer reason to change course. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Defender Keeps Fueling A Discipline Debate Carolina Cant Ignore
Trevon Moehrig has quickly become the Panthers tone-setter on defense, the kind of player who brings a hard edge every time he steps on the field. That has also made him part of a larger conversation around discipline, after his controversial low blow incident against Jauan Jennings led to a one-game suspension. Moehrig has tried to move the discussion back to football, saying the episode was a distraction and stressing that he intends to play physical while staying within the rules.
Still, the subject does not go away easily when the contact keeps following him onto the practice field. During a joint session with the Jaguars, Moehrig delivered a hard hit on wide receiver Tim Jones that briefly sparked a skirmish, a reminder of how thin the line can be between edge and excess. For Carolina, it is the kind of balancing act that can energize a defense, but also keep the team watching closely to make sure the line is not crossed again. [Read more 🡒]