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Carolina Panthers 2026 Free Agency Tracker: Latest Signings, Losses, News, and Rumors

The Panthers have already made a big splash in free agency.
Zach Roberts|
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs during the first half
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs during the first half | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are officially in free agency. The legal tampering window is open, and teams across the sport are eligible to make splash deals. They can't sign deals until Wednesday, and while these contract reports aren't fully locked in, it's rare for anything to fall apart after this stage.

However, the Panthers briefly seemed to have a deal in place last year with Milton Williams, who ended up with the New England Patriots, so anything can happen. We will keep you fully updated with all the latest information.

Latest signings

First and foremost, the Panthers agreed with Jaelan Phillips on a stunning $120 million deal. He's set to be here for the next four years, hopefully finally bolstering that pass rush that has struggled so much in the last few years.

Secondly, the Panthers also signed cornerback Akayleb Evans. He was a crucial special teamer and depth cornerback, and he's back on a one-year deal. The terms were not revealed, but they're likely to be fairly insignificant. He played in Jaycee Horn's absence at times.

Similarly, Robert Rochell, LaBryan Ray, and Thomas Incoom, all mainly special teams players and some restricted free agents, are back on short-term deals like Evans.

The Panthers also agreed to terms with Kenny Pickett. The ex-Raiders QB will presumably replace Andy Dalton as Bryce Young's backup. It's just a one-year deal, though, worth up to $7.5 million with $4 million guaranteed.

In a surprising move, the Panthers agreed to terms with linebacker Devin Lloyd, too. He agreed to a four-year, $45 million deal. That alone would've been substantial, but with the Phillips deal coming on the books, the Panthers are spending big on defense.

The Panthers also brought back David Moore on a one-year deal. This is wholly unsurprising, as Moore has followed Dave Canales and knows the offense well. Isaiah Simmons, who played five games with Carolina, is also back.

James Mitchell, a depth tight end, has returned on a one-year deal as well. Trevis Gipson, the edge claimed off the 49ers' practice squad last year, is also back. He had the lone sack in Carolina's playoff game. Most of these are unsurprising.

The Carolina Panthers signed John Metchie III to a one-year deal. He is a former second-round pick, but most importantly, he played in college with Bryce Young and the two had strong chemistry while Young won the Heisman.

Luke Fortner (center) and Stone Forsythe (swing tackle) were also signed to one-year deals. Fortner will start at center, while Forsythe projects as a backup.

In stunning fashion, the Panthers weren't done there. They signed Rasheed Walker, one of the best tackles on the market, to a one-year, $10 million deal (according to Spotrac). This is a stunning but amazing move.

Additionally, Nick Scott has returned. He was brought in via free agency last year, and the team liked him enough to re-sign him for another season.

Finally, the Panthers have a punter. They officially re-signed Sam Martin, who was quite good for them in 2025, to a two-year deal. For the first time in a while, they've nailed down the punter spot for a couple of years.

Latest rumors

As of now, there aren't many rumors circulating around the Panthers. Right now, it seems highly unlikely the Panthers will do a whole lot more. They've answered their biggest questions and spent big doing so.

And with the Phillips and Lloyd deals reaching $45 million in cap this year, it is highly unlikely the Panthers can even afford any other notable free agents, so don't expect to see them pop up in pursuit of the stars. That said, we'll keep you posted here with every rumor.

Losses

Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays (64) runs on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays (64) runs on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Panthers are going to lose several players this offseason, though none of them are true NFL superstars. As of now, in the first foray into the wild free agency frenzy, the Panthers have lost just two key players: Cade Mays and Rico Dowdle.

The Lions were a big contender to steal Mays away from the Panthers, and they did just that. Mays agreed to a deal worth $25 million over three years. $14 million is guaranteed, and now the Panthers have an official, glaring hole at center.

Rico Dowdle went to reunite with his former head coach, Mike McCarthy. The Panthers were always unlikely to retain Dowdle, even after a 1,000-yard season.

On Tuesday, the Panthers released veteran DL A'Shawn Robinson. This was purely to save cap, as his release saved $10.5 million. He now hits the open market.

Yosh Nijman retired from football. He was a strong contender to replace Ikem Ekwonu in the short term, but now it'll be up to Stone Forsythe and a potential draft pick. The Panthers also did not tender Claudin Cherilus, making him a free agent.

Christian Rozeboom and Nick Scott, among several others, remain on the open market for now. We will update this article with any more information on those players, should they leave or re-sign, whenever it comes available.

None of them top the market in their respective positions, so it may be a while before any movement occurs.

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Zach Roberts
ZACH ROBERTS

Zachary Roberts is a journalist with a wide variety of experience covering basketball, golf, entertainment, video games, music, football, baseball, and hockey. He currently covers Charlotte sports teams and has been featured on Sportskeeda, Yardbarker, MSN, and On SI.

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