RESURGENCE: Will Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips ELEVATE the Carolina Panthers Defense to New Heights in 2026?

Can the Carolina Panthers finally crack the NFL's top 15—maybe even top 10—defenses under Ejiro Evero in 2026? Julian Council examines the franchise’s ambitious defensive overhaul, spotlighting game-changers such as Derrick Brown, Jaelan Phillips, and All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd. With stars at every level and key draft additions, the Panthers are primed for a leap, but nagging questions remain about their ability to generate a consistent pass rush and replace A'Shawn Robinson's inside presence. Julian Council breaks down pressure stats, advanced analytics, and the uptick in defensive talent, questioning whether Dave Canales’ decision to extend Evero will pay off. Key topics include pass-rush expectations for Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, the impact of linebacker health, and the secondary’s standing after last year’s statistical jump. Will this upgraded unit be enough to carry Carolina back to playoff contention—or is a critical piece still missing? Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now Square Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl! #squarepod Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.