The Carolina Panthers are riding on the crest of a wave after winning the NFC South and reaching the playoffs. Now, general manager Dan Morgan and his front-office team are under pressure to keep the momentum going.
That might be difficult. The Panthers aren't blessed with much financial wiggle room on their salary cap right now. They are currently projected to have $12.95 million available, which won't be enough. Some difficult decisions are coming, and cost-cutting measures are needed to get Carolina in a stronger position before free agency.
Morgan will lean heavily on the executive vice president of football operations, Brandt Tilis. The Panthers coveted him heavily after his sterling work with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he specialized in salary-cap management. Carolina is on a more stable footing, but some maneuvering is required to take the next step.
Morgan and Tilis have a lot of hard work ahead. Some decisions will be difficult, but they must take sentiment out of the equation. This is all about putting the team first and doing what's best to ensure Carolina is in a strong position to successfully defend its NFC South title in 2026. Nothing else will do.
With this in mind, here are five bold moves that could help the Panthers free up almost $47 million on their salary cap in 2026.
All financial figures provided by Over the Cap.
Bold moves that could save $47 million on the Panthers' 2026 salary cap
Carolina Panthers restructure Derrick Brown
- Cap savings: $11.62 million
Dan Morgan has been reluctant to kick the can down the road throughout his two-year stint as general manager. The Carolina Panthers needed every cent, but he remained resolute, not wanting to move money into extra years. It proved successful, but that has to change now.
The Panthers have completed some contract restructurings under Morgan's leadership. These typically come with players who are going to see out their deals and are a significant part of the team's long-term plans. He'll be wise to consider the same again, and there are a few likely candidates on the list.
Derrick Brown is right at the top.
The Pro Bowl defensive lineman is Carolina's tailsman and arguably the best player on the team. Brown put together another dominant campaign in 2025, throwing opposing offensive linemen around like rag dolls to emphatically overcome almost everything in his path. He was unfortunate not to get All-Pro consideration, because he certainly played like one.
Brown has three years on his deal left, and he's firmly in his prime. Securing short-term financial stability through restructuring his contract seems feasible in the circumstances.
Carolina Panthers restructure Jaycee Horn
- Cap savings: $12.31 million
As previously mentioned, most of the Carolina Panthers' lofty earners are franchise cornerstones. That gives general manager Dan Morgan the option of restructuring contracts to provide some short-term relief.
Jaycee Horn is one of them. He cemented his status among the league's best shutdown cornerbacks last season, earning his second straight Pro Bowl distinction and locking down almost everyone in his path. The South Carolina product also managed to stay relatively injury-free, though the concussion issues down the stretch are worth monitoring in the coming months.
The Panthers made Horn the NFL's highest-paid cornerback with his contract extension ahead of time. That didn't last long, but it's already looking pretty cheap compared to the rising contract costs and high-caliber performance.
That's why Horn's contract could be tweaked. The former South Carolina sensation is still getting the same money; it'll just be worked differently. The $12.31 million in Carolina funds that could reportedly be freed up by this move is tempting. That would go a long way toward helping Morgan bring in productive free agents into the building at an important stage of his project.
Any major concerns anybody had about Horn have been silenced over the last two seasons. And Morgan may need to kick the can down the road this time around.
Carolina Panthers extend Mike Jackson Sr.
- Cap savings: $3.24 million
Speaking of cornerbacks, Mike Jackson Sr. was nothing short of exceptional during the 2025 campaign. He took things up a notch through elite-level coverage capabilities and a genuine willingness to assist against the run. He quickly became a formidable proposition to overcome, and Carolina should do whatever it takes to extend his stay.
Jackson earned All-Pro consideration, and rightfully so. Dan Morgan's decision to acquire the player in a late-offseason trade with the Seattle Seahawks before the 2024 campaign was arguably his best move yet. He solidified a problem area, forming a dominant partnership with Jaycee Horn. With another strong campaign in 2026, he's going to command a substantial amount on his next deal.
Even though Jackson will be 30 after the season, getting another deal worked out beforehand might be a risk worth taking. That's not going to be at the team-friendly deal he's currently playing on, but he's more than proved his worth.
Morgan saw something in Jackson when the Seahawks were ready to give up on him for nothing more than seventh-round linebacker Michael Barrett. The immediate savings attached to a new contract won't be earth-shattering, but the added benefits of locking him up to continue his outstanding tandem with Horn cannot be disputed.
Carolina Panthers cut A'Shawn Robinson
- Cap savings: $10.5 million
The Carolina Panthers face some difficult decisions. Sacrifices need to be made, and not everyone will be pleased with the outcomes. But in their current financial predicament, there really is no other option.
Looking at the roster as things stand, coupled with the financial ramifications, there aren't many clear-cut candidates for an early release. Almost every high earner plays a vital role. Tershawn Wharton's contract is difficult to get off after one season, and general manager Dan Morgan may not want to give up on someone like tight end Tommy Tremble just yet.
With A'Shawn Robinson, it's a different story. The veteran defensive lineman performed much better in Year 2 with the club, but Carolina has a surplus in the trenches. If further additions arrive, he becomes expendable, and there are substantial salary-cap savings attached to his departure with one year remaining on his deal.
Cutting the former Alabama standout saves the Panthers $10.5 million on their cap. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero probably won't like it, but this is a business above all else. And if Morgan wants to be more aggressive this offseason, these are the drastic measures that are needed.
Robinson wouldn't be out of work for long in this scenario. But make no mistake; he is Carolina's most likely candidate for release.
Carolina Panthers extend Damien Lewis
- Cap savings: $9.02 million
The Panthers have invested heavily in their offensive line throughout Dan Morgan's tenure as general manager. It's been money well spent, especially considering how successfully Carolina navigated some troubling injury problems throughout the 2025 campaign to secure the NFC South crown.
Almost every starting offensive lineman missed considerable time. Damien Lewis was the constant, playing 16 games and logging more than 900 snaps. More importantly, he was nothing short of dominant for the second straight year in Carolina.
Lewis was the more understated arrival, certainly compared to Carolina's $100 million man, Robert Hunt, in 2024 free agency. However, his physicality, tone-setting demeanor, and ruthless aggression have been a breath of fresh air. And with one year remaining on his deal, an extension before things get more complicated comes with untold benefits attached.
The former LSU star is dependable, durable, and leads by example. Lewis will only be 29 next season. Considering how long offensive linemen play well into their 30s, this is a long-term investment.
If this scenario becomes reality, the Panthers would also get some immediate salary-cap relief they desperately need. Lewis' money wouldn't go down in the coming years, but he's proven capable of being worth every cent so far.