3 things to know about new Carolina Panthers DE Darryl Johnson
By Dean Jones
Darryl Johnson can be a special teams ace for the Carolina Panthers
Generating meaningful reps on a loaded defensive front is going to be a tall order for Darryl Johnson.
There are plenty of talented players to surpass on the depth chart before this scenario comes to fruition. Until he’s ready to make a lasting contribution on defense, the Carolina Panthers need to maximize his skill set in the meantime.
Fortunately for the player and the Panthers, there is one way to do this.
Not only was Johnson a part of the defensive rotation on the Buffalo Bills, but he also emerged as a standout on special teams in the process.
An often overlooked part of the game, Carolina has preached the importance of getting their special teams’ production right in the kicking game on both sides and the addition of Johnson should aid their cause considerably.
Physicality, athleticism, and versatility are traits highly coveted by this coaching staff. Something that’s also been given the green light by general manager Scott Fitterer and other new, influential members of the front office during the offseason.
As stated previously, Johnson ticks all these boxes. And his nous for making big plays on special teams is something that played a leading role in Carolina pulling the trigger on this deal.