The New Orleans Saints made quite a few major additions this offseason, bringing in Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne, David Edwards and Kaden Elliss, but they weren’t the only team in the NFC South to make a splash. Matter of fact, the Carolina Panthers may have made the biggest move in the division signing Jaelan Phillips.
One expert just put Phillips in a category that could change everything for the Saints' pursuit of a divisional title. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes Phillips is on the verge of having a breakout season. Like Moton said, "if not for injuries, Jaelan Phillips may have had his breakout season years ago."
Phillips had 8.5 sacks as a rookie, 7 sacks the next year and 6.5 sacks in 8 games in Year 3. Year 4 was immediately canned due to injuries, and last year wasn't as productive. Panthers will hope Moton is correct about Phillips' breakout to justify the contract
Jaelan Phillips make the Panthers much more difficult for the Saints to pass
The Panthers and Saints are in unique positions that seem poised to clash as both teams rise to the top of the NFC South. Carolina is the team everyone is gunning for, as defending champs, and the Saints are the rising team in the division. Ironically, they’re also the two teams who made the loudest additions of the offseason.Â
Phillips was the big splash of the free agency and could be the biggest obstacle to the Saints getting past the Panthers. Moton’s point proves this.Â
We've already looked at the impact Chase Young can make on the Saints defense as a pass rusher. That's the value of having a stud pass rusher. It trickles up to the secondary, and the Panthers already have a star corner in Jaycee Horn.
It's not just about beating the Panthers. New Orleans did that twice last year and still finished lower on the division standings. It's about what Phillips can do when the Panthers aren't playing the Saints.
Phillips pairing his talent with availability could result in a 12+ sack season, and it shouldn't be surprising. The Panthers will be a difficult team to beat if they do that. He's far from along on that defense.
The Panthers already had Horn and defensive tackle Derrick Brown on the unit and added Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency. That's a defense with high level players in every room of the defense.
Bryce Young took a step forward a year ago. If that progression continues and Phillips' breakout helps the defense reach a new level, the Panthers will be a much tougher team for the Saints to pass in 2026.
Add us as a preferred source on Google