PHOTO | TROY HULL

Panthers defensive end Darryl Johnson, who played a limited role last year after he was acquired in a trade with Buffalo, has worked his way up the depth chart.

Darryl Johnson has grown into an NFL defensive end.

The Carolina Panthers edge rusher weighed 250 pounds – considered underweight for the position – as a Buffalo Bills rookie four years ago. Today, the North Carolina A&T alumnus is 15 pounds heavier and looks the role while playing his way into the rotation.

“Two hundred sixty-five,” Johnson said Friday after Carolina’s 21-0 win against Buffalo in the preseason finale, “is a long way from where I was.”

Johnson’s physical maturation helped. When he declared for the draft as a junior, scouts were concerned he was too thin to make an impact as an edge rusher although he racked up 17 sacks in his final two seasons at A&T while earning All-America and MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Since then, he’s bulked up his 6-foot-6 frame in addition to making the mental adjustments to succeed as a professional.

“It took a lot of work,” he said. “I went from my rookie year [when] I probably was like 250, 248” pounds to now I’m like 265. It definitely took a lot and I’m still getting used to it. It’s still not easy.”

One of Johnson’s assets is that he contributes on special teams, which is where he made most of his contributions in Buffalo and Carolina. As a more physically developed player, he has the combination of size and strength to be an every-down contributor when called upon, especially as a pass rusher.

“I’m just taking it day by day trying to evolve into this big frame now,” Johnson said, “and basically using everything I’ve got like my length to the best of my ability.”
The Panthers could use that ability at defensive end after 2021 sacks leader Haason Reddick left for Philadelphia as a free agent. For Johnson, acclimating to the demands of rush end was important to his chances of earning more playing time.

“I feel like I got a lot better with the mental aspect of the game,” he said. “The game is really slowing down a lot for me, so you get that knowledge as you grow into the league and you see a lot of things. I just feel like in that aspect I’ve grown.”

Johnson, who tallied 29 tackles in 31 games with Buffalo, was acquired a week before opening day in 2021. He spent six weeks on the injured reserve and COVID-19 lists, but after a full offseason and training camp, he’s listed as Yetur Gross-Matos’ backup on the depth chart and optimistic he’ll make the opening day roster.

“I’m very confident,” Johnson said. “I just leave everything in God’s hands and whatever God has planned for me, I’m gonna roll with it and take advantage of every opportunity.”

Another opportunity Johnson can take advantage of is being closer to friends and family. With an opportunity to realize his potential with the Panthers, he’s eager to display it as often as possible.

“It’s definitely great being home. There’s nothing like being around with family and friends more often,” the Kingsland, Ga., native said. “I see my mom and dad almost every other weekend as opposed to when I was in Buffalo, I was seeing them like maybe once a month.”

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