CHARLOTTE — Even if the Panthers didn't do another thing — and they are going to do other things — Monday was a good day.

And only part of that is about the people entering the building later this week.

The Panthers reportedly reached deals on Monday with Eagles pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips and Jaguars All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd, checking the two biggest boxes off the offseason to-do list.

Those were big swings, involving big (reported) dollars. But they also represent premium players at positions of need.

The Panthers were tied for 28th in the league with 30.0 sacks last year, so adding the top young player in the edge market is an obvious boost.

But what Lloyd could (reportedly) add might be just as significant.

If the Panthers are known for one thing in franchise history, it's having that guy at linebacker, that guy who means more to the team than just calls made or tackles recorded.

From Hall of Famers Sam Mills and Luke Kuechly to a litany of guys in between, including Micheal Barrow, Dan Morgan, Jon Beason, and Thomas Davis, they've enjoyed the kind of talent and leadership that can drive a team. And now Lloyd joins the club, coming off an All-Pro season in which he had five interceptions. (The Panthers only have two picks by linebackers the last two seasons combined, and perhaps you've heard pass coverage across the middle of the field was a thing last year.)

Those were two bold moves, and the fact that Morgan's the one making them (along with executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis) makes them a statement of intent.

"I mean, we're aligned in the building," Morgan said at the combine. "We have a plan. We're going to stick to that plan. We're going to stay disciplined. That doesn't mean we're not going to be aggressive and take swings, but you know, we're going to be smart. We're going to be calculated in what we do in our approach.

"I think between myself and Brandt and coach (Dave) Canales, we're always talking about the roster and ways to get better, and we do have to stay smart and disciplined. But again, that doesn't mean we're not going to be aggressive."

And they certainly were on Monday, setting the stage for a busy week to come.

But if you look around the rest of the NFC South, there were things happening that won't cause anyone in Bank of America Stadium to shed a tear.

The news that Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans was agreeing to a deal with San Francisco was frankly shocking.

Mike Evans represents an era of Tampa Bay football, and in particular, of sticking it to the Panthers. Literally, no one has done more against them.

He owns the record for most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns against the Panthers, and he has owned most of those records for a minute.

In 23 games against the Panthers, he's caught 125 passes for 1,760 yards and 15 touchdowns. That's six more catches than Roddy White, 223 yards more than Julio Jones, and five more touchdowns than Jimmy Graham, Terrell Owens, and White.

He single-handedly ended the wild 2022 playoff push by catching 10 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, on a day without Jaycee Horn.

Evans' streak of 1,000-yard seasons ended this year because of injuries, but longtime Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen has joked that he's seen the M1KE graphic on the Raymond James Stadium scoreboard when he crosses the threshold so many times it feels like part of his life.

And it is. Or was.

The Bucs still have good players, and they made some smart additions on Monday, but losing fixtures like Evans and cornerback Jamel Dean will require a period of adjustment.

The same is true of the Saints, who were extremely active and signed running back Travis Etienne and guard David Andrews to provide security for ascending quarterback Tyler Shough.

But things still feel very different there with a couple of key departures on defense.

With linebacker Demario Davis heading back to the Jets and cornerback Alonte Taylor joining the migration to Tennessee, a couple of longtime Panthers tormentors are gone.

Davis has played the Panthers 18 times (11-7 record) with 114 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and eight tackles for loss.

Taylor has been a more acute pain for a shorter amount of time. He's only played the Panthers seven times (5-2). But he sacked Bryce Young three times in the 2024 opener and picked him off here last season. So getting him and Davis up and out of the division will be a relief.

Again, it's one day, the first of the negotiating period, and none of these deals can even become official until Wednesday.

But for the Panthers, it was a very good day, for a lot of reasons.