Devin Lloyd is heading to Carolina. The former first-round pick is inking a three-year deal with the Panthers, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The three-year contract is worth $45MM and includes $25MM in guaranteed money. Lloyd may not have reached the very top of the linebacker market at $20MM per year as he was hoping (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer), but he will still come in with the fourth-highest annual pay at the position after receiving Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro recognition in 2025.
Lloyd, 27, was a highly-touted prospect out of Utah in 2022 who landed in Jacksonville via the No. 27 overall pick. He took over a starting job as a rookie, but struggled mightily in his transition to the NFL. Lloyd finished the 2022 season with a 48.1 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the ninth-worst among starting linebackers.
Two years of improvement followed. Then, in 2025, Lloyd emerged as a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball. Though his tackle production lagged relative to his first three seasons, he recorded a career-high five interceptions, allowed just a 57.1 passer rating when targeted, and added 28 pressures as a pass rusher, the third-most among off-ball linebackers.
The Panthers, who also inquired after Tremaine Edmunds before he signed with the Giants, will be banking on Lloyd to have a similar impact. He will slot in as Carolina’s starting linebacker next to Trevin Wallace, a 2024 third-rounder who has shown promise but missed nine games due to injury since being drafted.
Lloyd will likely take over the green dot role in a Panthers defense will also feature edge Jaelan Phillips in 2026. The two former first-rounders will hope to continue the unit’s ascension in Carolina’s third year under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this story.
That’s surprisingly affordable considering what other players got.
Carolina going all in on defense yet again.
Wow, Í can’t believe Lloyd got that little. Would rather Raiders signed Lloyd than Paye.
Jalen Phillips and now Lloyd, they paid a pretty penny for Phillips, but he and Lloyd are added to a defense that came on hot towards the end of the year and gave the rams offense a run for their money, twice
I was convinced someone was going to overpay Lloyd. I thought for sure he would get more than Baun got after only playing off-ball linebacker for one year. The contract he actually got is a much easier pill to swallow. Surprised he came in this low.
If Horn, Brown, and Phillips can stay healthy alongside Lloyd and Moehrig, and Nic Scourton takes another step, that’s a very nice core of talent on defense.
He’s a solid backer