Panthers sign LB Devin Lloyd to three-year contract

Charlotte, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers have fortified their defense by agreeing to terms with linebacker Devin Lloyd on a three-year, $45 million deal, the club confirmed Monday via senior writer Darin Gantt. According to NFL Network reporters Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, $25 million of the pact is fully guaranteed.

Lloyd, a Kansas City, Missouri native who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, enters the Panthers’ locker room fresh off a Pro Bowl campaign. In 15 games last season he logged 81 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. His ball-production stood out even more: five interceptions for 135 yards, seven pass deflections, and a momentum-swinging 99-yard pick-six against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 6 — the longest interception return for a touchdown during the 2025 regular season.

The 26-year-old was ranked the third-best free agent available in 2026 free agency by league observers, trailing only wide receiver George Pickens and quarterback Daniel Jones. Carolina’s move secures a versatile playmaker who has proven capable of altering games both in coverage and on blitzes.

Team officials have not yet announced how Lloyd will slot into the defensive scheme, but his 2025 tape suggests he can contribute immediately as a three-down linebacker capable of matching up with tight ends, spying mobile quarterbacks, and providing timely pressure up the middle.

The contract keeps Lloyd under Panthers control through the 2028 season and provides the franchise with a marquee defensive piece as it looks to rebound in the NFC South.