Carolina Panthers
TightCarolina Panthers are carrying $53.4M in dead money this year — cap already spent on players no longer on the roster. They project $7.4M of room in 2027. Real flexibility doesn't arrive until 2028 (projected +$136.0M), as current deals roll off. The decisions that shape it: Jaelan Phillips ($32.5M), Derrick Brown ($31.4M), Taylor Moton ($28.4M) top the 2027 book.
Cap trajectory
Projected space, next three years
2026+$0.5M
$311.2M committed
2027+$7.4M
$319.6M committed
2028+$136.0M
$216.0M committed
Space is OTC's projection against a projected future cap. Negative = over the line before any new signings.
Decision watch-list
Biggest 2027 cap hits
| Jaelan Phillips | $32.5M |
| Derrick Brown | $31.4M |
| Taylor Moton | $28.4M |
| Jaycee Horn | $26.0M |
| Bryce Young | $25.9M |
| Robert Hunt | $24.3M |
Ranked by cap hit — the contracts that drive the restructure-or-cut call. Per-player cut-savings math isn't modeled yet.