Linebacker Devin Lloyd has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Carolina Panthers, league sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Lloyd was ranked third among The Athletic’s top-150 free agents and was the top linebacker available.
Lloyd was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round in 2022. The No. 27 selection in that year’s NFL Draft got off to a strong start as a rookie. In his first month as a pro, Lloyd had 24 tackles, six passes defensed and two interceptions. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Month in September of the 2022 season.
Over the course of his first three seasons in the NFL, Lloyd established himself as a key part of the Jaguars’ defense. In that time, he only missed three games, starting 46 of the 48 games he played in. Although Lloyd was solid, Jacksonville’s defense struggled overall, ranking 22nd in the league in defensive EPA from 2022 through 2024. Following the 2024 season, the Jaguars declined to pick up Lloyd’s fifth-year option, making the 2025 season the final year of his rookie contract.
Lloyd’s fourth season ended up being his true breakout year. He had two interceptions in a 26-21 Week 4 win over the San Francisco 49ers, and followed that up with a crucial late-game pick-six of Patrick Mahomes in Week 5 as the Jaguars beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Lloyd finished the 2025 season with a career-high five interceptions and 10 quarterback hits, along with six tackles for loss and seven passes defensed. Lloyd’s performance earned him second-team All-Pro honors and the Jaguars finished with a top-five defense by defensive EPA.
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