Carolina Panthers: 30 greatest players in franchise history
16. player. 87. . Defensive End. 2007-17. Charles Johnson
It was tough deciding the order of the Panthers’ other top pass rushers. We all know that Julius Peppers was/is the star of the show, but we have to give the other guys credit, right?
After Rucker found himself at No. 18, I decided to roll with Charles Johnson here at No. 16. It may be a questionable decision, but I believe the latter’s sack totals and extended time with the team make him worthy of coming in ahead of the guy he replaced as the Panthers’ other defensive end.
As of this moment, Johnson sits at No. 2 on Carolina’s all-time sack list with 67.5 career takedowns. Although he had an up-and-down career that at one point included a release, he’s always remained with the Panthers while serving as a reliable threat off the edge. From 2010 to 2014, he notched at least 8.5 sacks each season.
As Johnson’s career wound down, he started to lose the step that made him such a dangerous presence at defensive end. Over his final three seasons in Charlotte, he managed only five sacks. Luckily for him, the rest of his résumé is stellar, justifying his No. 16 ranking.