Panthers Clips
The Panthers are parting ways with a veteran defensive lineman.
The team announced the release of defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson on Tuesday afternoon. Robinson had one year left on his contract in Carolina.
Robinson’s departure will clear a little more than $10 million in cap space for the coming season. They will retain a little over $2 million in dead money as well.
Robinson played in 33 games over the last two seasons. He had 145 tackles, eight sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in that action and he also had three tackles in the playoffs last season.
Derrick Brown, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown, and Cam Jackson remain on hand at defensive tackle.
The Panthers added a couple of big names to their defense on Monday and they announced that fans will have to pay a bit more to watch Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd play their home games on Tuesday.
In a letter to season ticket holders, the Panthers announced, via Alex Zietlow of the Charlotte Observer, that the “overall blended ticket price” for seats at Bank of America Stadium will increase by 12 percent for the 2026 season. The team said their average ticket price is projected to be the 23rd-highest in the league.
It’s the third straight season that the Panthers have increased ticket prices. They went up by four percent in 2024 and six percent last year.
The Panthers will host the Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, Bears, Lions, Ravens, Bengals, Seahawks and Broncos during the 2026 season.
The Panthers added players like Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd to their defense on Monday and they announced the return of a couple of their own defensive players on Tuesday.
They have re-signed defensive lineman LaBryan Ray and cornerback Robert Rochell. They did not announce the terms of either deal.
Ray was on track for restricted free agency after playing in 46 games for the Panthers over the last three years. He has 73 tackles and a sack over his time in Carolina.
Rochell split last season between the Cowboys and Panthers. He appeared in four games once joining the Panthers and has 30 tackles, an interception and three fumble recoveries in 54 career games.
The Panthers have made another move to improve their defense.
Via Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, Carolina has agreed to terms with former Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd. Per the report, it’s a three-year, $45 million deal. Of the amount, $25 million is guaranteed.
A first-round pick in 2022, the Jaguars decided after three seasons not to pick up his fifth-year option. With 2025 becoming a contract year, Lloyd made the Pro Bowl and landed on the All-Pro second team.
The Panthers signed Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips early in the day.
Lloyd’s biggest play in 2025 happened in the Monday night win over the Chiefs. He dropped into coverage near the goal line, intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown.
Three pumps for three rivers. (We know, we know. It was only two.)
Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who signed a one-year deal in Carolina a year ago, has agreed to terms with the Steelers, per Jordan Schultz.
Terms have not yet been reported.
Earlier today, Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell, the team’s MVP in 2025, agreed on a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers.
In 2025, Dowdle had 1,076 rushing yards and 297 receiving yards in 17 regular-season games. In Week 5 and Week 6, he had back-to-back games with more than 200 yards from scrimmage.
Dowdle signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Panthers a year ago, after spending his first four seasons with the Cowboys. During his final year in Dallas, Dowdle had 1,079 rushing yards.
Bryce Young has a new backup.
The Panthers have signed quarterback Kenny Pickett to a one-year deal with $4 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Pickett will give the Panthers depth in case Young gets hurt.
Andy Dalton is still under contract with the Panthers for 2026, but Pickett’s arrival could signal that the departure of Dalton is coming.
A 2022 first-round pick of the Steelers, Pickett played two years in Pittsburgh and one in Philadelphia before signing with the Browns last year, then getting dealt to the Raiders a few months later. Now Pickett is on his fifth NFL team.
As the Lions look to re-tool their offensive line this offseason, they have found a new center.
According to multiple reports, Detroit has agreed to sign Cade Mays to a three-year contract.
Initial reports indicate Mays’ deal is worth $25 million with $14 million guaranteed.
Mays, 26, started 12 games for the Panthers in 2025. He was a Carolina sixth-round pick in 2022, appearing in 11 game with two starts as a rookie and 16 games with five starts in 2023.
While Mays was waived during roster cuts in 2024 and spent some time with the Giants, he returned to the Panthers in October of that season. He ended up appearing in 11 games with eight starts for Carolina before sticking with the team as a restricted free agent last offseason.
Mays will now head to the Lions, who are looking for a more permanent replacement for former center Frank Ragnow, who retired last offseason. The club will also need to replace Taylor Decker at left tackle.
During the 2025 season, the Eagles gave up a third-round pick to the Dolphins to get edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. They ended up getting eight regular-season games from him.
The Panthers have reached an agreement with Phillips. Per multiple reports, it’s a four-year, $120 million deal.
The $30 million annual average puts him at seventh, for now, among edge rushers.
A first-round pick of the Dolphins in 2021, Pittman has 28.0 career sacks. The Eagles had wanted to keep him, but despite their ability to keep plenty of key players, the salary cap at some point becomes an issue.
The Panthers have tendered contracts to a pair of their exclusive rights free agents.
Wide receivers Jalen Coker and Brycen Tremayne received the tenders. The move keeps both players from negotiating with other teams when free agency opens next week and sets them up to remain in Carolina for the 2026 season.
Coker missed the first six games of the 2025 season before returning to post 33 catches for 394 yards for three touchdowns in the final 11 contests. He had nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in the team’s playoff loss to the Rams.
Tremayne played in 16 games last season. He had 14 catches for 160 yards in those appearances.
The Cardinals and Panthers will be kicking off the NFL’s 2026 preseason schedule.
The NFL announced on Wednesday that the two teams will be playing in this August’s Hall of Fame Game. The game will be held on August 6 in Canton, Ohio with this year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies set for August 8.
It is the first time the Panthers will play in the game since 1995. The Cardinals have made five appearances with the last one coming in 2017.
Both teams will be represented at those ceremonies as well. Former Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly are both entering the Hall this year.
The rest of this year’s class includes former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, former Patriots and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, and former 49ers running back Roger Craig.
