The Carolina Panthers caused a massive splash on the first day of legal tampering by agreeing to terms with stud edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and second-team All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd. This was an immensely positive development, but it meant sacrifices needed to be made elsewhere.
The Panthers didn't have much available cap space even before signing Phillips and Lloyd. They have even less now, so other roster moves were needed if Carolina's general manager, Dan Morgan, wanted to make additional acquisitions in the coming days.
And the first domino to fall always seemed inevitable.