The Carolina Panthers cancelled their practice and media obligation on Monday, but they were still taking care of business. It was reported that several teams were making phone calls to acquire Buffalo Bills Darryl Johnson before the Panthers pounced on the move. Bills General Manager Brandon Beane, who previously worked for the Panthers, reached out to them and they agreed to a trade.
The Panthers traded for defensive end Darryl Johnson. The deal was first reported by NFL Network Monday afternoon. The Panthers will give the Bills a 2022 sixth-round draft pick. That pick will be the higher of the picks the Panthers have in their possession. They have their own sixth-round pick and the one they received from the Las Vegas Raiders for the linebacker Denzel Perryman trade last week.
Johnson, who came out of North Carolina A&T, was selected in the seventh-round by the Bills in 2019. In his senior season with the Aggies, Johnson was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-6, 262 pounder, played in 31 out of a possible 32 regular season games during the first two years of his career. Johnson has accumulated 29 tackles, 5 quarterback hits and two sacks as a backup on the Bills defensive line. He also made his presence known on special teams over that time. Johnson is expected to have a similar role with the Carolina Panthers. During the playoffs, he registered two tackles.
The Bills defensive end position has become overloaded with talent this off season, so Johnson has had very little experience coming after the quarterback on the NFL level.
Johnson has played well this preseason for the Bills. In three preseason games, he has made seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass deflection.
