Carolina Panthers’ NFL free agency tracker Day 3: Linebacker hits open market
The Carolina Panthers have been busy over the past two days. And with the new league year set to begin at 4 p.m., general manager Dan Morgan’s free-agency wheeling and dealing might continue.
So far, the Panthers have agreed to terms with outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, inside linebacker Devin Lloyd, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, offensive tackle Stone Frosythe and center Luke Fortner. Those external deals can’t officially be signed until Wednesday afternoon.
In the meantime, Morgan has reached short-term pacts with a handful of internal free agents. The likes of Thomas Incoom, Akayleb Evans, David Moore and Isaiah Simmons will return in 2026.
But what’s to come in the minutes, hours and days ahead? Stay tuned to this Wednesday live tracker to get updates on all the moving and shaking in Carolina:
Robinson staying in NFC South; Cherelus joins the open market
It didn’t take very long for former Panthers defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson to find a new home. Within roughly 24 hours of his Carolina release, the veteran has reportedly agreed to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Robinson will get a one-year, fully guaranteed $10 million deal from Tampa Bay. That’s a notable raise for Robinson, who was due an $7.64 million base salary in 2026 with the Panthers before being released Tuesday.
Robinson, 30, spent the past two seasons in Carolina. His release opened up $10.5 million in cap space ahead of the new league year.
Robinson isn’t the only member of the 2025 Panthers defense who could be headed out of the town this offseason. Linebacker Claudin Cherelus, a notable contributor on special teams, became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. He was set to become a restricted free agent, but the Panthers passed on giving him a qualifying tender. He is now free to sign elsewhere without restriction.
Cherelus has spent the past three seasons with the Panthers. He has been with the team since he was claimed off waivers from the New York Jets following the 2023 preseason.
Alabama reunion: Young partners with former teammate in Carolina
The Carolina Panthers have added a playmaker to their depth chart in free agency. And he’s got an existing relationship with starting quarterback Bryce Young.
The team reached an agreement on a one-year deal with former New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.
ESPN was first to report the agreement.
Metchie was set to become a restricted free agent Wednesday, but the Jets chose not to offer him a restricted tender. So, the former Alabama standout was free to sign with a new team at the start of the new league year.
GM Dan Morgan and EVP of Football Operations Brandt Tilis were able to reach a pact with Metchie roughly a half-hour into Wednesday’s open market.
Metchie now joins a wide receiver group headlined by Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. The depth chart also features Jimmy Horn Jr., Brycen Tremayne and recently re-signed David Moore. (READ MORE HERE)
Carolina Panthers tight end returns on 1-year deal
Turns out the Panthers aren’t messing much with their tight end group during this free agency negotiation period. That was solidified after the team opted to bring back veteran TE James Mitchell on a one-year deal, as a league source told The Charlotte Observer.
Mitchell had an interesting season in Carolina, where he arrived after his first three seasons in the league in Detroit. The 6-foot-4, 249-pound playmaker finished with snaps in only five games — spending most of the season behind rookie Mitchell Evans, second-year TE Ja’Tavion Sanders and fifth-year veteran Tommy Tremble.
But when he was active on game day, he was good. He caught all three of his targets for 28 yards and two first downs. He also was an asset as a blocker, which is vital in head coach Dave Canales’ offensive philosophy that uses a lot of 12 and 13 personnel (one running back and two/three tight ends).
“It was definitely a challenge, mentally, just being a healthy scratch,” Mitchell, 26, said in January after the season concluded. “But you know, I was just trying to be a good teammate, first of all, for the guys. Especially being the oldest in the room.”
“And then, always knowing the game plan, in and out, taking pride in always knowing what to do. You never know when your number is going to get called, even in practice. So just staying ready. And I think when my time came to play early on, and then here late in the season, I felt like I was ready. I felt like did my job when I was called upon.”
Panthers bring back journeyman pass rusher
The Panthers agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran outside linebacker Trevis Gipson on Wednesday, a league source told The Charlotte Observer.
Gipson was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday afternoon. He is the second re-signing and third overall transaction at outside linebacker this week for Carolina. The team previously agreed to terms with Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and re-signed special teams ace Thomas Incoom.
“We have to be better just in terms of having that depth, because injuries inevitably are going to happen throughout the season,” Morgan told The Charlotte Observer in February during Shrine Bowl week in Frisco, Texas. “So, we just gotta make sure we do a good job of stocking up on as many rushers as we can.”
Gipson arrived in Carolina as a signing off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad this past October. After Pat Jones went on injured reserve with a season-ending back injury, Gipson stepped in his place in the rotation. Gipson finished the regular season with 12 tackles and a sack in nine games with Carolina.
He also had the lone sack in the Panthers’ playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in January.
Gipson has the ability to play on all three downs but is most likely to serve as a backup and special teams contributor. He will compete for snaps behind Phillips and Nic Scourton with Incoom and Princely Umanmielen, among others. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound pass rusher is entering his seventh NFL season.
Derrick Brown’s contract restructured as expected
The Panthers restructured 2023 Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown’s contract this week, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday.
The team added two void years to the back of Brown’s contract and paid out the bulk of his 2026 base salary as a signing bonus. The signing bonus charge was then spread throughout the remainder of the deal — including the two void years — to open up $13.5 million in cap space, the source confirmed.
Spotrac, a salary-cap specialization website, was the first to report the restructure. According to the site’s initial report, $16.9 million of Brown’s base salary was converted into a bonus.
This move had been expected throughout the offseason, as Brown was a prime restructuring candidate. With a lofty base salary and a long-term outlook in Carolina, Brown made sense as a player to further invest in on the cap. His 2026 charge will now impact future seasons.
Brown won’t receive any additional money from the four-year, $96 million deal he signed in 2024, but he benefits from an immediate bonus payment, and the Panthers get cap room to pay for Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd.
Between Brown’s restructuring and A’Shawn Robinson’s Tuesday release, the Panthers have opened up $24 million cap space ahead of the new league year.
Breaking down the Panthers’ free agency outlook so far
Agreed to terms: OLB Jaelan Phillips, ILB Devin Lloyd, QB Kenny Pickett, C Luke Fortner, OT Stone Forsythe, WR John Metchie
Re-signed: LS JJ Jansen, CB Akayleb Evans, CB Robert Rochell, DE LaBryan Ray, OLB Thomas Incoom, S Isaiah Simmons, WR David Moore, OLB Trevis Gipson (agreed to terms), TE James Mitchell (agreed to terms).
Exclusive right free agents (can only negotiate with the Panthers): WR Jalen Coker, WR Brycen Tremayne
Unrestricted free agents: ILB Krys Barnes, G/T Brady Christensen, C/G Austin Corbett, G/T Jake Curhan, P Sam Martin, CB Damarri Mathis, OT Yosh Nijman, LB Christian Rozeboom, DB Nick Scott, OLB DJ Wonnum, LB Claudin Cherelus.
Released: DE A’Shawn Robinson
Waived: DT Popo Aumavae
Agreed to sign elsewhere: C Cade Mays (Lions), RB Rico Dowdle (Steelers),
Projecting Panthers’ 2026 depth chart following big deals
The Panthers have 60 players under contract. They also have the external agreements with Phillips, Lloyd, Fortner, Forsythe, Pickett and Metchie, and the internal agreements with Gipson and Mitchell.
Below is a projected depth chart meant to show the roster as it stands entering Day 3 of negotiations:
(Note: New players in italics)
OFFENSE
QB: Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett/Andy Dalton
RB: Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne, Montrell Johnson Jr., Anthony Tyus III
WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, John Metchie, Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn, David Moore, Dan Chisena, Ja’seem Reed, Ainias Smith
TE: Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans, James Mitchell, Bryce Pierre
LT: Ickey Ekwonu (injured), Stone Forsythe
LG: Damien Lewis, Ja’Tyre Carter, Joshua Gray
C: Luke Fortner, Nick Samac
RG: Robert Hunt, Chandler Zavala, Saahdiq Charles
RT: Taylor Moton
DEFENSE
DE: Derrick Brown, LaBryan Ray
NT: Bobby Brown, Cam Jackson
DE: Turk Wharton, Jared Harrison-Hunte
OLB: Jaelan Phillips, Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom
ILB: Devin Lloyd, Bam Martin-Scott, Maz Mwansa
ILB: Trevin Wallace, Maema Njongmeta, Jared Bartlett, Jamil Muhammad
OLB: Nic Scourton, Pat Jones, Trevis Gipson, Jacoby Windmon
CB: Jaycee Horn, Chau Smith-Wade (nickel), Akayleb Evans, Michael Reid
S: Tre’von Moehrig, Isaiah Simmons
S: Lathan Ransom, Demani Richardson
CB: Mike Jackson, Corey Thornton, Robert Rochell, Tyrek Funderburk
SPECIAL TEAMS
LS: JJ Jansen
K: Ryan Fitzgerald
P: N/A
This story was originally published March 11, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
