5 former Carolina Panthers players who thrived elsewhere in 2021
By Dean Jones
Mario Addison – Former Carolina Panthers DL
Although Mario Addison might be in the twilight of his career, he remains a key component of the defensive line rotation on the Buffalo Bills and is still performing at a high level when called upon. The former Carolina Panthers player has featured in just 45 percent of the team’s snaps on defense in 2021, but with seven sacks and countless big plays, his importance cannot be understated.
There is a strong number of ex-Panthers coaches and roster members in Buffalo. With Brandon Beane also thriving in the role of general manager, the Bills look primed for another deep postseason run and dismantled the New England Patriots to kick off their postseason in convincing fashion on Saturday evening.
Addison is a commanding presence against the run and has no trouble generating pressure when opportunities arise. More importantly, Buffalo’s head coach and former Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is utilizing the former Troy star in a way that maintains freshness to secure maximum impact.
This is all good news for the player and the Bills. Addison is out of contract this offseason and will be 35 years old during the 2022 campaign, but as long as he continues producing the goods in key situations, there might be another contract coming his way in Buffalo or elsewhere during the free agency period.