The 2021 first-round pick will head to Carolina to join an underperforming front line that has sputtered since trading Brian Burns to New York in 2024. Phillips will also pair well with defensive tackle Derrick Brown, a former first-round pick who is underrated as an infielder despite finishing tied for the Panthers.
Phillips’ deal puts him between Jacksonville’s Josh Hines-Allen and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa in terms of average annual salary ($30 million), devoting a significant chunk of money to a quarterback who has played three full seasons in five years in the NFL, but also gets paid for options. For the 2025 NFC South champion Panthers, such compensation was necessary to convince Phillips to consider a home outside of Philadelphia. If all goes well, it could end up being a wise investment.