Overview
- The deal is worth $120 million over four years with $80 million guaranteed, making Phillips one of the highest-paid edge rushers in this free-agent class.
- Phillips said he chose Carolina over Philadelphia because the Panthers’ offer was more attractive and he agreed almost immediately without a pre-signing video call.
- Carolina plans to feature him in Ejiro Evero’s Fangio-influenced scheme, and Phillips emphasized a goal of converting frequent pressures into more sacks.
- Despite logging only five sacks in 2025, he posted top-tier pressure numbers, reinforcing the upside case that has drawn both praise and scrutiny.
- Health and production remain the key variables after recent Achilles and ACL tears, as the Panthers target a pass-rush boost for a unit that ranked 28th in sacks last season and added linebacker Devin Lloyd; the Eagles, outbid to retain Phillips, are projected to receive a 2027 third-round compensatory pick.