Trending Now - Panthers Secure Jaelan Phillips With $120 Million Contract
WHO:
Jaelan Phillips, edge rusher, Carolina Panthers
Howie Roseman, Eagles general manager
Dan Morgan, Panthers general manager
Ejiro Evero, Panthers defensive coordinator
Jaelan Phillips, edge rusher, Carolina Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins
Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator
Adam Schefter, ESPN NFL Insider
Howie Roseman, Eagles general manager
WHAT:
Phillips is ranked No. 2 in The Athletic’s top-150 free agents and the second edge rusher behind Trey Hendrickson.
Phillips has a $30 million annual average value contract, making him the league’s eighth-highest paid edge rusher.
Phillips has 28 career sacks in five seasons.
Jaelan Phillips signed a four-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.
The contract is worth $120 million, including $80 million guaranteed.
Phillips had 28 total tackles, seven quarterback hits, four passes defended, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in eight games with the Eagles.
Phillips called his trade to the Eagles "literally the greatest thing that has happened to me in my whole life, probably."
Phillips has 28 career sacks and 68 quarterback hits in 63 games.
WHERE:
Carolina Panthers (new team)
Philadelphia Eagles (previous team)
Miami Dolphins (original team)
WHEN:
Phillips turns 27 years old in May 2026.
Phillips was traded to the Eagles at the November trade deadline in 2025.
Phillips was a first-round pick in 2021.
He played in all 17 games in the 2025 season.
WHY:
The Panthers needed to improve a defense that finished with the NFL’s second-lowest pass rush rate in 2025.
The Eagles made a strong push to keep Phillips but could not afford his contract demands.
Phillips had previously played under Vic Fangio in Miami, which influenced his fit in the Eagles' defense.
HOW:
The Panthers are expected to restructure contracts of Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn to create significant salary cap space.
Phillips was acquired by the Eagles for a 2026 third-round draft pick.
(UPDATED March 9, 2026 23:07 UTC)
In a significant move to bolster their defense, the Carolina Panthers have signed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who is ranked second among free agents by The Athletic and has a contract worth an average of $30 million per year, making him the eighth-highest paid player at his position. Phillips, who has recorded 28 sacks over five seasons, is set to turn 27 in May and comes to the Panthers after they finished with the second-lowest pass rush rate in the NFL last season. To accommodate this signing, the Panthers are expected to restructure contracts for players Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn to create the necessary salary cap space.
--
(UPDATED March 9, 2026 19:20 UTC)
Jaelan Phillips has signed a four-year contract worth $120 million with the Carolina Panthers, which includes $80 million guaranteed. The edge rusher, who previously played for the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded from the Miami Dolphins at the November trade deadline last year, expressed that joining the Eagles was "literally the greatest thing that has happened to me in my whole life, probably." Despite a strong push from the Eagles to retain him, they were unable to meet his contract demands, leading to his move to Carolina.