5 free agents that could help the Panthers immediately after 1-2 start
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could target A.J. Johnson
It appears as if another gamble at the middle linebacker spot isn’t working out for the Carolina Panthers. Damien Wilson has been inconsistent at best over the opening three games, which is something those in power might look to address in pursuit of salvaging anything from 2022.
Introducing Brandon Smith into the starting role would benefit the organization more in the long run. However, there’s an urgency to get the right immediately, so putting a development project into the firing line comes with obvious risks that cannot be ignored.
If the Panthers look at the free-agent pool for a potential solution, then A.J. Johnson is a name worth considering.
The former Tennessee star ensured some rough luck with injuries last season with the Denver Broncos. Still, it’s easy to forget that he attained 124 tackles in 2020 during the best campaign of his career by a considerable margin.
With 249 tackles through 34 starts, Johnson’s instincts to be around the football consistently are there for all to see. However, we don’t know how things are regarding health and fitness, so it does represent a risk in an area of the field that’s been crying out for consistency since the great Luke Kuechly hung up his cleats.