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Carolina Panthers: Charles Johnson Returns Again

By John Woodcock

Dec 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) jogs around the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) jogs around the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Carolina Panthers brought back long time veteran Charles Johnson for another two years.

The Carolina Panthers have been busy recently bringing back the pieces to their old defensive line. They signed Wes Horton and Mario Addison a few days ago. Now the Panthers have brought back Charles Johnson for another two years. Of course Kony Ealy is still playing on his rookie deal. So what do these moves tell us about the team’s direction? It suggests the Panthers are not looking at defensive end in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The question you have to ask is how many defensive ends do you need? The answer is probably around five. That gives you a four man regular rotation and a guy on hand in case of injury. With Addison, Ealy, Horton, and Johnson under contract, the number is already four. Johnson would like to add Julius Peppers to the unit, which would yield five according to reports by David Newton of ESPN. That leaves no room for a draftee to have a major role.

In a world where Peppers comes back, the Panthers would have two units of Johnson-Peppers and Ealy-Addison. Horton would become the stop gap guy. Again there is no room for a new defensive end in that scenario.

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The additional reason for this course of action may be the draft itself. Despite having the eighth pick, the Panthers may not be able to get one of the top three defensive ends in the draft pool. The combine has teams more realistically valuing the quarterback crop which has caused them to move down the draft board. As a result, players like Jonathan Allen and Solomon Thomas have moved up after good combines.

That would leave the Panthers at eight unable to address that position with a guy they would value high enough. That could lead to drafting a different position or trading down. Trading up seems less likely given the expensive of trying to do that. It looks like their theory then is to sit tight with the defensive ends. Of course this is all based on the Panthers signing Peppers and only one quarterback going in the top five.

If the Panthers do not go end in the first round then there are running backs to be considered. The Panthers might also consider trading down since positions of need like tackle will be available later in the first round.

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