Panthers release veteran defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson to open up cap space
The Panthers opened up a big chunk of cap space on Tuesday following the release of veteran defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson.
Robinson’s release will open up $10.5 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. Robinson was due a $7.64 million base salary in 2026, but his cap number for the season was set at $12.6 million.
While Robinson didn’t have guaranteed money linked to the third and final year of his contract, the veteran could have also made an additional $2.87 million in various bonuses had he played out the season.
Robinson — who turns 31 in March — signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Panthers in 2024. He produced 145 total tackles, eight sacks and four pass breakups during his two seasons with the team.
The Panthers entered the day with a projected $8.42 million in projected salary cap space, according to Over The Cap. With the $10.5 million savings, Robinson’s release should give the team around $19 million in cap room heading into free agency on Wednesday.
The team agreed to a monster $120 million deal with former Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips on Monday, according to league sources. Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd also agreed to terms, reportedly on a three-year, $45 million pact.
Releasing Robinson will help facilitate those signings at the start of the new league year.
What Robinson’s departure means for the defensive line
While the cap savings should help the Panthers make the upgrades to their roster in free agency, Robinson’s departure will greatly impact the team’s defensive line rotation in 2026.
Robinson was arguably the team’s second-most productive defensive lineman in 2025 — behind only Derrick Brown. Robinson co-led the team in sacks (5.5) in 2024, and he ranked second among Carolina linemen, behind Brown, in sacks (2.5) in 2025.
Brown played on 76.4% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps last year, while Robinson played on 62.2% of those reps. No other defensive lineman played more than 38.3%, as free-agent addition, Turk Wharton, dealt with injuries throughout his first season in Carolina.
Wharton played in just nine games, producing 36 total tackles and two sacks. He’s guaranteed $14 million this upcoming season.
With Robinson gone, the Panthers will need Wharton to step up. He’ll also need to show improved durability.
Wharton struggled against the run last year, but the Panthers can use him in a rotation with nose tackle Bobby Brown in 2026 if both remain healthy. The duo complement each other’s skill sets, and they were originally brought in last season as a combination package. Unfortunately for the Panthers, Wharton’s injuries didn’t help the duo find a rhythm together.
The Panthers will need to find the right rotational recipe with Derrick and Bobby Brown and Wharton in 2026.
More playing time for the youth movement
Cam Jackson, a 2025 fifth-round pick, should also factor into the math in the trenches.
General manager Dan Morgan told The Charlotte Observer in January that he was excited about Jackson’s upside with the possibility of more playing time.
“A young guy, continuing to get his body right — get stronger, get leaner,” Morgan said. “So, I think you’ll start to see him coming around and being more of an impact player.”
Jackson, who played college ball at Memphis and Florida, earned some playing time on defense down the stretch of last season with Wharton nursing a hamstring injury. Jackson, listed as 6-foot-6 and 328 pounds, showed off his massive size with a blocked extra-point attempt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the season finale.
With some playing time under his belt, the hope is that Jackson can continue to rotate into the lineup as a run-stopper with pass rushing upside.
Other options at defensive end
The Panthers also re-signed veteran LaBryan Ray on Tuesday.
Ray played 157 snaps on defense for the Panthers last season. In three years with the team, the former Alabama defensive lineman has produced 73 total tackles, a sack and two QB hits.
Ray has played in more games for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero than anyone else on the Carolina defensive depth chart.
“When you have a successful unit or a successful team, you’ve got to have guys like LaBryan,” Evero said in October. “Guys that do all the dirty work that people don’t notice but are so critical to success. And, you know, he gets in there, he plays the run game, he plays blocks, he’s physical, makes tackles. He hustles — he’s got a great, great play style about him. And there are so many times that he — you noticed the two tackles he made, obviously (against Miami) — but there’s so many significant things that he does in the game that really go unnoticed, that he’s made over the last couple of years with us.
“I couldn’t have higher praise for a player and a professional,” Evero added. “And he’s really helped our football team.”
Jared Harrison-Hunte, an undrafted player out of SMU, could also be an option for the trenches.
The Panthers promoted him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster in November to prevent him from being poached from a rival ball club during the season. Harrison-Hunte, who began his college career at Miami, produced 15.5 sacks during his six-year college career.
Harrison-Hunte didn’t play a single snap during the regular season last year.
Jackson, Ray and Harrison-Hunte, if used properly, could be positioned as cheap, youthful depth behind Derrick and Bobby Brown and Wharton in 2026.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 1:53 PM.
