CHARLOTTE — Panthers general manager Dan Morgan knew what his defense needed.
And the Panthers moved quickly in free agency last week, reaching fast deals with outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd.
The fact that he attacked the market with the same kind of intensity he played with shouldn't be discounted, either.
"I think Devin and Jalen are two guys that we obviously held in high regard during free agency," Morgan said Friday. "When you look at both those guys physically, how big they are, how long they are, the effort that they play with, the way they prepare, they were definitely guys that we had our eyes on during free agency.
"Me being a former player and watching them on tape, they have everything that you want in terms of the motor, the effort, the instincts, the range that they play with. So, they were really good adds for us, and guys that we're really excited about, and they're really going to help our defense moving forward."
As the guy in the middle of the Panthers' defense 20 to 25 years ago, Morgan knew what he was looking for.
And what he thinks he found was impact, in a premier young pass-rusher in Phillips (who was top 10 in the league in pressures last year), and a three-down linebacker in Lloyd, whose coverage ability (five interceptions last year) can only help.
Morgan had studied both when they came out in the draft and thought back to those reports as he watched them over the years, and how they might fit alongside guys like Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horn, and Tre'von Moehrig.
"I just know they're two guys that I obviously scouted coming out of college, that I held in high regard then," Morgan said. "And to be able to get them in free agency, they're just going to add so much to our defense along with the guys that we already have.
"We're just really excited about adding them and adding the type of players and leaders that they are in the locker room, the way they prepare, the way they just approach their day-to-day, they're everything that we wanted."
They were part of a busy flurry to start free agency, as they also signed five other outside free agents (including left tackle Rasheed Walker), and retained 14 of their own to cover a lot of holes heading into the draft.
"I felt like having that depth and frontline players that we added in free agency, I think it really gives us a lot of flexibility headed into the draft to draft the best available player," Morgan said. "So again, I'm just excited about the direction that we're headed, that the franchise is headed, and we're on the draft now and, you know, that's another exciting time where we can add really good quality players to our roster, and we're ready to go."
View photos as the Panthers welcome their newly signed free agents to Carolina. Players had the opportunity to tour Bank of America Stadium with loved ones after signing.
The Carolina Panthers sign Jaelen Phillips on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Jaelen Phillips on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Jaelen Phillips on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Jaelen Phillips on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Jaelen Phillips on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Jaelen Phillips on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Devin Lloyd on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Devin Lloyd on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Devin Lloyd on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Devin Lloyd on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Devin Lloyd on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Devin Lloyd on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Kenneth Pickett on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Kenneth Pickett on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Kenneth Pickett on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Kenneth Pickett on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Kenneth Pickett on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Luke Fortner on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Luke Fortner on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Luke Fortner on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Luke Fortner on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Luke Fortner on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Luke Fortner on Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Stone Forsythe on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Stone Forsythe on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Stone Forsythe on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Stone Forsythe on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign Stone Forsythe on Friday, Mar. 13, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign players Rasheed Walker on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign players Rasheed Walker on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign players Rasheed Walker on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign players Rasheed Walker on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign players Rasheed Walker on Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign John Metchie on Monday, Mar. 16, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign John Metchie on Monday, Mar. 16, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign John Metchie on Monday, Mar. 16, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers sign John Metchie on Monday, Mar. 16, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
