For much of the offseason, the Carolina Panthers made it clear: they were going to attack the defensive front-seven.
Mission accomplished.
After underwhelming play at linebacker and having the lowest quarterback pressure rate in the NFL, the Panthers required serious moves to make noise following their first trip to the playoffs in eight years. Edge rusher and linebacker were the two biggest needs on the roster, until they weren't.
As the legal tampering period began to signal the start of free agency, the Panthers signed top free agent pass rusher Jaelan Phillips to a four-year, $120 million contract for $30 million a year to begin the process.