CHARLOTTE — With NFL free agency about to begin, we've put together a one-stop shop for all the latest Panthers moves and news.

The league year officially starts on March 11 at 4 p.m., at which point teams can sign players and make trades. On Monday, March 9, beginning at noon, the agents for free agent players can negotiate with teams, though deals can't be finalized until Wednesday.

This article will include all the latest news and moves, updated with whatever the Panthers do over the next month. We'll also keep tabs on the Panthers free agents who go elsewhere, as well as all the latest reports.

Bookmark this page to stay updated on everything you need to know about the Panthers in free agency.

Getting ready for free agency

Before the flurry of activity begins, there are some basics to cover.

When general manager Dan Morgan talked in Indianapolis, he made it clear that upgrading his old position — middle linebacker — was going to be a priority this offseason and one he wanted to "attack." This franchise has enjoyed Hall of Fame play there from Sam Mills to Luke Kuechly, with standouts from Micheal Barrow to Morgan to Jon Beason in between.

But that's hardly all the Panthers have to do, as they have a short-term need at left tackle while Ikem Ekwonu recovers from his torn patellar tendon, and a vacancy at center. Here's Morgan from the combine on the needs.

We also took a position-by-position look at the roster entering free agency.

The series started with a look at the offensive line, then running backs, quarterbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers. On defense, we started with the defensive line, outside linebackers, inside linebackers, and finished with safety and cornerbacks. The special teams were covered here.

You can see a full list of the Panthers free agents here.

Old Reliable is back

It wouldn't be a Panthers offseason if it didn't begin with re-signing long snapper JJ Jansen to another one-year deal. This year, it happened on Feb. 17.

Jansen, who turned 40 in January, already holds the Panthers record for games played with 277, though he's just the third-oldest player to play here.

He's also adding to his media empire with a new podcast with Kuechly, which is eloquently known as "JJ and Luke." You can check out the first episode here, and the next one is dropping soon.

Taking care of two receivers

The Panthers tendered contract offers to wideouts Jalen Coker and Brycen Tremayne on March 4. They were exclusive rights free agents, so they weren't going anywhere, but it keeps some stability at the position.

Coker closed the season strong, with 19 catches for 244 yards and three scores in the final five games. He also had nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown in the wild card game against the Rams, giving them a solid complement to offensive rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan.

Panthers reportedly add pass-rusher

The Panthers always seem to work quickly in free agency.

In the first hour of the negotiating window, the team reportedly agreed to terms with former Eagles pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips.

Phillips was a need, since the Panthers were tied for 28th in the league in sacks last year with 30.0.

Looking for a new center

The Panthers will be in the market for a new center, as incumbent Cade Mays reportedly agreed to a deal with the Lions on Monday.

Mays started 12 games last year and 27 in four seasons with the Panthers. The former sixth-round pick can play guard or center, but stepped in and played well last year when Austin Corbett was injured.

Getting younger at quarterback

The Panthers reportedly agreed to terms with former Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett on Monday.

The 27-year-old has a 16-11 record as a starter, going 7-5 twice with the Steelers.

He also knows his way around Bank of America Stadium, winning the ACC title here during his days in Pittsburgh.

He also has shown the ability to improvise, as his fake-slide turned into a touchdown in that championship game. This isn't the first time the Panthers have shown interest, either.

Get to know Pickett a little more with these fast five facts.

Rico Dowdle headed to Pittsburgh

Running back Rico Dowdle reportedly agreed to a deal with Pittsburgh.

The Steelers lost Kenneth Gainwell to the Buccaneers earlier Monday, so there was an opening for more of the workload in Pittsburgh.

Dowdle posted his second straight 1,000-yard season this year.

Another big fish landed

The Panthers reportedly agreed to a deal with Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd Monday night.

That's a huge get, on the heels of the earlier reported agreement with Jaelan Phillips.

That gives them two difference-makers on defense, a middle linebacker to call the signals, and a pass-rusher.

Lloyd was the top inside linebacker in the market, and adding him creates the opportunity to take another big step on defense.

Keeping two of their own

The Panthers have re-signed a couple of their own free agents, bringing back defensive end LaBryan Ray and cornerback Robert Rochell.

Ray was a key rotational part on defense for the last three years, starting nine games in 2024 while they were without Derrick Brown, and Rochell was here previously in 2023 as well.

Robinson will head to market

The Panthers announced Tuesday they have released defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson.

The longtime veteran spent the last two seasons with the Panthers and was a heavy contributor during 2024 when Derrick Brown was sidelined. Robinson returned for 2025, his 10th season in the league, and finished with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and eight quarterback hits.

He started all 33 games he appeared in as a Panther, totaling 145 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks over the past two seasons.

UPDATE: Robinson agreed to a one-year deal with Tampa Bay, so we'll see him again soon.

David Moore back to protect his herd

Veteran wideout David Moore is back for another year, again. The valuable mentor to a young receiving room — and trusted agent of coach Dave Canales — is returning to the team after signing Tuesday. He only caught one pass last year, missing most of the season after a Week 4 elbow injury. But he's good for the kids around him.

The team also kept safety Isaiah Simmons and outside linebacker/special teamer Thomas Incoom.

Those are valuable depth roles, and guys who all play significant special teams snaps.

Offensive line depth acquired

The Panthers reportedly agreed to a pair of deals Tuesday night to add offensive line depth and options.

Former Saints and Jaguars center Luke Fortner, and Seahawks and Raiders tackle Stone Forsythe are reportedly en route.

The Panthers obviously needed numbers there, as center Cade Mays is reportedly on his way to Detroit, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is coming back from a torn patellar tendon, and Yosh Nijman, Jake Curhan, Austin Corbett, and Brady Christensen are all free agents and able to sign with any team Wednesday at 4 p.m.

These two would fill depth-chart needs, giving the team options heading into the start of the new league year and the draft.

Officially official

Now that the clock has ticked past 4 p.m. on the east coast, the league year is officially open, making all of the reported and preliminary talks official. Team can announce they have agreed to terms and players can now begin to sign contacts

Here is a breakdown of everything the Panthers have done so far.

Valuable special teamer returns

Special teamer and backup corner Akayleb Evans resigned with the Panthers on Wednesday. Evans appeared in 16 games last season, primarily on special teams. Following Jaycee Horn's injury in Week 12, Evans did end up playing 51 snaps on defense in 2025, accumulating 12 tackles.

Evans returned on a one-year deal.

A reunion for Bama stars

The Panthers have agreed to terms with receiver John Metchie III, reuniting him with his college quarterback, Bryce Young.

Metchie spent his first three years with the Houston Texans, but was traded to the Eagles, then the Jets for the 2025 season. He is a speed player and when last playing with Young in 2021, pulled in a team high 96 receptions (1,142 yards and eight touchdowns).

Free agent tackle Yosh Nijman announces retirement

Former Panthers tackle Yosh Nijman announced his retirement on social medial Wednesday night.

He was a free agent, and a possibility to return, before he chose to step away from the game.

This is also why the Panthers pivoted quickly in free agency to sign Stone Forsythe for depth at tackle.

Best of luck to Yosh in retirement.

First wave of guys arrive in Charlotte

Four of the free agents the Panthers agreed to terms with this week arrived in Charlotte on Thursday: Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd, Kenny Pickett, and Luke Fortner. All signed their contracts and had first introductions to Panthers fans.

Read about how Devin Lloyd fitting in and preparing to uphold the Panthers linebacker corps.

Read about Jaelan Phillips full circle moment and how patience, grace, and music helped prepare him for this opportunity.

Read about Phillips deciding on his new jersey number.

Dependable linebacker returns

The Panthers have resigned Claudin Cherelus after his strong finish to the 2025 season. Cherelus started the wild card game against the Rams and finished with a team high nine tackles in the game.

Panthers sign top tackle in free agency

With the impending rehab facing Ekwonu, and the retirement news from Nijman, the Panthers knew they needed solid options at left tackle. So they went out and signed the top LT on the free agency market, Rasheed Walker. The former Packers lineman spent four years in Green Bay is started 48 games for the Pack.

Get to know Walker a little better in these fast five facts.

Panthers return starting safety

Incumbent safety starter Nick Scott is returning on a one-year deal after starting all 17 games last season.

Scott was second on the team with a career-high 111 tackles last year.

Two contributors returning

Carolina re-signed two of their own to start the week, returning outside linebacker Trevis Gipson and tight end James Mitchell.

Gipson appeared nine games, and had a sack in the playoff game against Matthew Stafford.

Mitchell joined last year after three years with the Lions. He appeared in five games with three catches for 28 yards.

Sam Martin returns

The Panthers can now play a game and have every position filled, after agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with punter Sam Martin Monday.

(Our sources indicate they won't actually play a game for around five months, diminishing the seriousness of the previous problem.)

Martin was good last year, punting consistently. And if you closed your eyes and pretended the Patriots game never happened, he'd have ranked sixth in the league in net punting average. (It happened, unfortunately.)

In the room where it happens

You ever wondered what it's like being in the room during a 10-hour sprint through free agency?

Well, you could listen to the guys who were in there, as Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis added two top talents to the roster.

"It's a lot at once," pro scouting director Lee McNeill said. "I wouldn't say chaotic, but there's a lot going on in a short amount of time. And it's amazing to see how Brandt and Dan work in that environment because there's so much going on and so many things happening that they have to, particularly Brandt, has to digest so much at once and then make sound decisions in a short amount of time.

"So it's a very chaotic time. But at the same time, we feel like we're prepared."

To read more about how the first day of the negotiating window unfolded, take a deep dive here.

Quadzilla coming to Carolina

The Panthers added a veteran on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with former Packers and Eagles running back AJ Dillon.

The man known as "Quadzilla" for the size of his legs didn't get a lot of play time last year in Philadelphia, and missed the entire 2024 season because of a neck injury.

But he's a solid power-running complement for Chuba Hubbard, and helps fill the void left when Rico Dowdle left for Pittsburgh.

A special teams ace returns

Back in 2024, Feleipe Franks was dominant on special teams for the Panthers. He spent last year with the Falcons, but now Carolina is bringing him back to the Queen City. The tight end, special teams player has reportedly agreed to terms with the Panthers.

ASU linebacker returns to Carolina

Former Rams outside linebacker Nick Hampton has agreed to terms with the Panthers. Hampton, an Anderson S.C.-native, was a fifth-round pick of the Rams in 2023 out of Appalachian State.

He had 26.5 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, and 133 quarterback pressures during his time with the Mountaineers.

Another one heads to Tampa Bay

For the second time this offseason, a former Panthers starter has headed to a division rival.

Linebacker Christian Rozeboom agreed to terms with the Buccaneers (and if you think about it, he kind of looks like a pirate). He was an unrestricted free agent, at a position where the Panthers signed Devin Lloyd.

He started 15 games and led the team with 122 tackles last year.

In Tampa, he re-joins defensive end A'Shawn Robinson, who was released and quickly signed with the Bucs earlier this month.

Veteran lineman headed to Buffalo

Veteran offensive lineman and the Panthers reigning Man of the Year nominee Austin Corbett is signing with the Buffalo Bills, according to reports. Corbett was with the Panthers for the past four seasons. He was, at different times, a starting guard, starting center, and sixth-man.

And once the free agent frenzy is over, the Panthers will turn their attention to the draft.

They pick 19th this year, and have seven total picks after a few moves. You can see a full list of their picks here.