The Philadelphia Eagles have received validation for letting Jaelan Phillips walk in free agency this offseason. He ultimately priced himself out of the club's budget — yet the Carolina Panthers seem quite happy they picked up the lofty bill for him.
Phillips appears to be settling into a new environment fast. The standout outside linebacker's presence in Carolina has been felt early, and in more ways than one. He's reportedly wasted no time giving them reason to feel great about their four-year, $120 million investment in him; sound familiar, Eagles fans?
It shouldn't be surprising to hear that Phillips is hitting the ground running with the Panthers either, since he did the same upon joining the Eagles. While folks in Philly understand retaining him would've come at a steep cost, his talent and work ethic are undeniable.
The Panthers are already realizing why Eagles fans loved Jaelan Phillips
Of course, there hasn't been much to assess how Phillips fits in Carolina, considering no pads or live contact are permitted in the spring. His efforts thus far have still made a strong first impression on the coaching staff, namely defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
"There's not a lot of humans in the world that are that big, and that can move the way [Phillips] does," Evero stated back in May, via the Panthers' official website. "The first thing that stands out about him is the football character. ... The way he is in the classroom, he's a great teammate. When it's time to do the work and be about the business, he's certainly the best at that."
Actions speak louder than words, and money talks. Philadelphia wanted Phillips back, but Carolina evidently desired him more. He's even admitted as much when explaining his massive free-agency decision in March.
Making such a significant commitment to Phillips is certainly a gamble. He's never been a Pro Bowler or All-Pro and has a notable injury history, after all. Carolina is ostensibly comfortable with his credentials (or lack thereof) and quite literally betting on him to stay healthy and reach another level, though.
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Despite not having the recognition to prove it, Phillips is already showing the Panthers faithful what makes him one of the NFL's best pass rushers. His 60 hurries and 76 total pressures ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, among edge defenders last season, including the playoffs, per Pro Football Focus ($).
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