Reports: LB Jaelan Phillips signs with Panthers on 4-year, $120M deal
Free-agent linebacker Jaelan Phillips signed with the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $120 contract within the first hour of free agency on Monday, according to multiple reports.
The deal reportedly includes $80 million in guaranteed money for the pass rusher.
Phillips was traded from Miami to Philadelphia last November for a 2026 third-round pick. He recorded 28 tackles, seven quarterback hits and two sacks for the Eagles, who reportedly wanted to and believed they would retain Phillips in free agency.
The 18th overall pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft, Phillips had 53 tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for loss and 14 QB hits in 17 starts last season.
He was limited to eight games in 2023 with a torn Achilles and played just four games in 2024 with a partially torn ACL.
Over five NFL seasons with the Dolphins and Eagles, the outside linebacker has played 63 games (46 starts) and racked up 205 tackles, 32 TFLs, 28 sacks, 68 QB hits, an interception, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
The Panthers finished tied for 29th in the NFL last season with 30 sacks. No single player had more than five for Carolina (Nic Scourton, Derrick Brown), which still managed to make its first playoff appearance since 2017.