The Carolina Panthers released one of their veteran pass rushers Thursday in defensive end Charles Johnson. Johnson is only 29 years old, but the Panthers feel as if he is beginning to show signs of decline, so his release may mean that he is reaching the twilight of his career. He only played in nine games in 2015, but he started in every contest.
Johnson recorded a total of 12 combined tackles, one sack and a pass defense in the nine games that he played in. He has had over five sacks a season since 2009. The appeal of a franchise signing Johnson comes from what he brings to game. Johnson will get double teamed, and this will free up other defenders along the line who will have a better chance of getting to the quarterback.
There are currently 10 teams in the NFL who could use a quality, veteran edge rusher, and Johnson may just be that guy. Currently, the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs would all benefit the most from signing Johnson, as he could help solidify a pass rusher.
Couple him with free agent defensive lineman Mario Williams, and you have a powerful veteran duo that would be pretty difficult to stop. The Cowboys will need to free up some more cap space in order to offer both players a contract, but this could be done pretty simply by releasing several ineffective players.
The New York Giants could release all of their edge rushers in free agency and come away with Williams and Johnson, as they currently have the most cap space out of the teams being discussed. The Giants have done a superb job at freeing up cap space, and it appears now that they will let Jason Pierre-Paul walk in free agency. They may also release Robert Ayers and Cullen Jenkins, along with several other pass rushers, so rebuilding this defensive line may be a key for their future success.
Williams and Johnson should not command a ton of money thanks to their advanced age, and if their market is small, they could even be up for the veteran minimum contract. The one thing that teams must worry about is how much Johnson has left in the tank; after 10 seasons of football, his body may not be able to hold up for a full season.
