CHARLOTTE — In theory, there is no one position on defense more important than another. While some carry a higher monetary value, and others are labeled the quarterback of the defense, it does take—as coaches often tell us—all 11 doing their job for the defense to be successful.

But when it comes to scheme-specific roles, well, that's a different story.

The Carolina Panthers, under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, run a base 3-4 defense, meaning the foundation of their scheme is predicated on three down linemen (on the line of scrimmage) and four linebackers. The linebackers often consist of two middle backers and two that are close to the line of scrimmage but don't have a hand in the dirt like a down lineman.

According to MatchQuarters, the Panthers ran their base 3-4 alignment only 23.5 percent of the time last season, while lining up in nickel (five defensive backs, which typically means only three linebackers) 58.3 percent of the time.*

There is one position, though, that, when given a little twist, can make the entire defense come alive.

"In Coach E's defense," explained outside linebackers coach A.C. Carter, "in this 3-4 style of defense, you need someone that can change the math of the game."

Essentially, by allowing one of the outside linebackers/edge rushers to become a hybrid backer—playing as a pass-rusher, run stopper, or coverage guy from snap to snap based on his own diagnosis of what is happening before, during, and after the snap—you can turn a 3-4 into a variety of different looks, or "change the math," to use Carter's term.

Football is a numbers game, a puzzle where certain pieces fit, and whichever side can arrange them the quickest and in the correct sequential order often wins the play. Having a dynamic hybrid linebacker allows the defense to manipulate what the offense thinks they're seeing. They can't plan for that player because the player himself can change his role mid-snap.

"At that position, you are looking for a player who can always win one-on-one rushes, who has the ability to change the math for you, who has the ability to dominate the edge versus tackles and tight ends in the run game," continued Carter. "And also when it's time to hit home runs in the passing game, to be able to get the quarterback down for you."

Enter Jaelan Phillips.

Considered the top young edge rusher in this year's free agent class, Phillips has changed the look of the Panthers' defense without even playing a down for Carolina.

"It's always good to get high-level football players," added Evero. "Jaelan is certainly a high-level edge rusher, and that's a very, very important position in our scheme."

Phillips spent his first four and a half years with the Miami Dolphins. Injuries sidelined him for portions of two seasons, but when back on the field in 2025 after Miami exercised his fifth-year option, Phillips proved himself once again as an imposing pass rusher and run stopper.

When the Eagles came calling, needing to beef up their own pass-rush in defense of a Super Bowl title, the outside linebacker stepped into a scheme that let him open up his bag of tricks once again. Between the Dolphins and the Eagles, Phillips finished 2025 having played in all 17 games, accumulating 5.0 sacks and 61 quarterback pressures, 11th-most among edge rushers.

"I feel like I'm a very fundamentally sound player, with the run and being back in coverage when I'm dropping, whether I'm rushing the quarterback," said Phillips. "So, I try to be a technician. I try to be very fundamentally sound when it comes to doing my job for the team, so I feel like that's what I bring."

Phillips played under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2023 and 2025. Both years were for half a season (in 2023, Phillips suffered an Achilles injury; in 2025, he reunited with Fangio in Philadelphia), but they saw some of the best of Phillips. His 2023 season saw Phillips play in eight games, during which he was on track for one of his most productive years yet, averaging 0.8 sacks a game.

Evero's first job in the NFL was learning under Fangio at the San Francisco 49ers, where the former was a defensive assistant for two years and the latter was defensive coordinator.

"(Vic) tortured me for a couple of years," Evero jokingly told Phillips on his first day in the building.

"That sounds like Vic," Phillips replied.

The result, though, is a similar defense in which Phillips has shown he can thrive.

"I've played a lot in 3-4s," said Phillips. "I definitely can say that I'm versatile in the sense that I can get down to the 3 (technique), I can play the edge. I can walk out in coverage. I can drop back to the inside backer if I need to. I've done a lot of things in a lot of different defenses.

"I think that's kind of one of the fortunate things that I've had different coordinators with different teams, different position coaches, stuff like that. So, I've had a lot of experience and been involved in a lot of different systems, so I think that I can definitely contribute in that sense of just being versatile and allowing the defense to be able to be multiple because you don't have to worry about my position."

Despite Phillips' impressive pressure numbers, the pass-rusher himself admittedly gets antsy when looking at his sack numbers. For better or for worse, that's how an edge player is graded, and he himself isn't happy with where his numbers currently sit (28.0 total sacks in 63 games).

"It's tough because I think naturally sacks are the flashy things," admitted Phillips. "Everybody talks about them, and even within my own head, it's hard not to just focus on sacks and be like 'Oh damn, I don't have as many sacks.' And so I sometimes might not feel like I'm producing as much."

But with each snap, Phillips has made himself a commitment to affect the play, no matter what.

"The one thing I know about myself is I'm going to get after the quarterback," promised Phillips. "I'm going to affect him. I'm going to get my hand in his face. I'm going to take the tackle back into him.

"I think for me, I'm excited about expanding my game and really getting that finishing aspect and turning a lot of the disruption into production."