RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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In 2015, quarterback Cam Newton became the first player in Carolina Panthers history to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. And as you read this today—11 seasons later—there has yet to be a second.
As we enter the 2026 campaign, there isn't anyone on the Panthers' current roster who could realistically contend for that honor again. But from a team standpoint, they are headed in the right direction for the first time since Newton's heyday.
That direction might include the biggest addition of this offseason in former Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, who signed a four-year, $120 million deal to come to Carolina. While he hasn't played a single snap in a live game since, some see him as the team's most valuable player outside of the quarterback position.
Jared Dubin at CBS Sports has named Phillips the team's non-quarterback MVP going into the 2026 season. Dubin writes:
The Panthers are surely hoping that Phillips is their MVP after handing him a four-year, $120 million contract this offseason. When healthy, Phillips has been very good both rushing the passer and stopping the run, and he's heading into his physical prime at 27 years old. Carolina desperately needs someone to get after the quarterback after struggling to do so for the last several seasons, and Phillips is the guy the Panthers are counting on to do it at a high level.
Phillips may very well live up to this billing—especially if he can turn his high pressure rate into more sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, Phillips tallied 73 pressures this past season—tying for the ninth-highest such total in the entire NFL.
With that being said, it's difficult to overlook defensive tackle Derrick Brown as the Panthers' non-quarterback MVP. Carolina felt his absence when they fielded the 32nd-ranked ( and historically bad) defense in 2024—where he missed 16 of 17 games with a meniscus injury. He'd return in 2025, amassing a career-high 5.0 sacks while helping push the unit to a respectable 16th overall ranking and an NFC South title.
So although Phillips may help ignite some much-needed fire off the edge, Brown—by our estimation—should be the choice for this particular exercise.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL analyst names surprise non-QB MVP for Panthers in 2026
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