4 players the Carolina Panthers will miss most in 2020
By Dean Jones
Mario Addison – (Former Carolina Panthers DE)
Another hugely influential figure that departed the Carolina Panthers this offseason was Mario Addison. The veteran defensive end has been a huge part of the franchise over the past eight years. And his presence on the field and in the locker room will take some replacing.
Addison is one of those inspiring undrafted free-agent stories that rose to prominence at the next level. He left the Panthers on a high after recording 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 20 combined tackles. But the cost to keep him around during a period of transition was something the Panthers shouldn’t and couldn’t have paid.
The pass-rusher got one last big payday when he signed a three-year, $30.45 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. This included a $6 million signing bonus and a further $15.25 million guaranteed.
This was a considerable seal of approval from the Bills, who are clearly confident Addison can continue to get to the quarterback despite his advancing years. The Panthers are going in a completely different direction in 2020. And will need their young edge rushers to contribute from the outset.
light. Related Story. Carolina Panthers depth chart: High hopes for defensive end group in 2020
Second-year-pro Brian Burns could be set for a breakout year with more time on the field. Stephen Weatherly was brought in during free agency from the Minnesota Vikings. And Carolina spent their second-round pick on promising Penn State product Yetur Gross-Matos.
They have plenty of options available to them. But in the short-term, Addison’s consistency on the line of scrimmage will be missed.