Carolina Panthers: 3 most important players on defense

Mario Addison

Mario Addison had a tremendous year in 2018, and it was one where he truly showed he was one of the more underrated defenders in the entire league. His ability to get after the quarterback and make big plays in the backfield served him well, as the Carolina Panthers struggled on defense last year.

He had a great year last year, appearing in 16 games and starting all of them. Recording nine sacks and 12 quarterback hits, he proved to be an integral part of the defense. In addition, he recorded 35 tackles. Those numbers were a bit down from 2017. That year, he recorded 11 sacks and 44 tackles. With 15 quarterback hits, he proved he was sound at bringing pressure to the backfield.

He will be the one guy that is able to bring consistent pressure to the Carolina Panthers opponents. Of course, Gerald McCoy could also fit that category, but we don’t know what he can bring to the table yet. Addison has been there and done that, and he looks to build off two consecutive solid seasons. He is undoubtedly a key part of the defense, and his playmaking ability is second to none.