Panthers' Free Agency Moves Boost Defense, Line

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is NFL News Today, subscribe to keep up with every headline, every game. The Carolina Panthers are showing real progress after a rough stretch. They went from 2 wins and 15 losses in 2023 to 8 wins and 9 losses last season, even snagging the NFC South title. Now General Manager Dan Morgan is building on that momentum with smart free agency moves to fix key spots like pass rusher, linebacker, and left. Tackle. Earlier this week, Morgan locked in big names to shore up the defense. He signed outside linebacker Jalen Phillips to a 4-year deal worth $120 million after stints with Miami and Philadelphia. Then came linebacker Devon Lloyd, a 2025 pro-bola from Jacksonville, on a 3-year contract for $45 million. The real steel was Tackle Rashid Walker on a 1-year bargain at $4 million. This 6-foot 6 veteran from Penn State has 52 starts under his belt since 2023, giving

1:02the line some stability right away. Fans love how affordable he is, especially with Iqonu, sidelined by a serious knee injury from the playoff loss to the Rams. That injury leaves Iqonu status up in the air for next year, so Walker buys time while a young guy develops. His online highlight would a smart, low-risk ad he is, easing pressure heading into the season. With the draft just over a month away and the 19th overall pick in hand, Morgan has options to grab another Tackle or build elsewhere. These moves set the Panthers up nicely for a strong push in the NFC South.