Panthers sign Jaelan Phillips to massive free agent contract, per reports

One of the top pass rushers of NFL free agency, Jaelan Phillips, has decided where he will be playing in 2026 and beyond.

Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million deal to the join the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports.

Phillips was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. The Miami (FL) product dealt with injuries during his time with the Dolphins – playing just 12 games across a two-season span after tearing his Achilles in 2023 and tearing his ACL in 2024 – but performed well when on the field.

Phillips racked up 26 sacks across 55 games before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2026 third-round pick ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline. The 26-year-old reunited with Vic Fangio – who coached him during the 2023 season with the Dolphins – upon joining the Eagles, which eased his transition into Philadelphia's defense.

While Phillips generated just two sacks across nine games with the Eagles, postseason included, he was still impactful. The five-year veteran managed 35 total pressures during his half-season in Philadelphia, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. That ranked third-best among all Eagles while his 63 combined regular-season pressures with the Dolphins and Eagles ranked 11th in the league.

Phillips was expected to have a robust free-agent market because of his consistent ability to rack up pressure. Carolina won the sweepstakes for his services and will hope he can help upgrade a team that ranked dead-last in pressure rate last season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats.

Jaelan Phillips contract details

Phillips' massive contract with the Panthers will make him the eighth-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL in terms of both average annual value (AAV) and total contract value.

Below are the reported details of the agreement:

• Term: Four years
• Total contract value: $120 million
• AAV: $30 million
• Guaranteed money: $80 million

Jaelan Phillips stats

Below is a look at Phillips' career stats across his five seasons with the Dolphins and the Eagles.

• Games: 63
• Tackles: 205
• TFL: 32
• Sacks: 28
• Forced fumbles: 2
• Pass defenses: 11

Phillips racked up a combined 53 tackles, seven TFL, five sacks, four pass defenses and one forced fumble while playing 17 games in 2025.