Source: Veteran free agent Mario Addison not expected to re-sign with Panthers
The Panthers are not re-signing Mario Addison, per league sources, with the veteran defensive end instead agreeing to a three-year deal with the Bills. At the start of the free agency period Monday, several other teams became aggressive in expressing an interest in signing him and the Panthers were not among them.
Addison has been with the Panthers since 2012 when they signed him mid-season. During his time with Carolina he was accumulated 55 sacks, 207 tackles and 97 quarterback hits. He led the team in 2019 with 9.5 sacks. Addison is fourth on the Panthers all-time sack list behind Mike Rucker (55.5), Charles Johnson (67.5) and Julius Peppers (97). He has never been voted to a Pro Bowl or been named First Team All-Pro.
Originally an undrafted rookie free agent from Troy in 2011, Addison was signed by Chicago and spent time in Indianapolis and Washington before being signed by the Panthers. He is reuniting with Bills general manager Brandon Beane, who has partly behind his signing in Carolina, coach Sean McDermott and Eric Washington, now Bills defensive line coach after his tenure as the Panthers defensive coordinator.
During his time in Carolina, he has become a staple of the organization. No one on the Panthers has come even remotely close to having as many sacks as him since 2012. During that time period, he has accumulated all 55 of his career sacks. The next closest player is Charles Johnson with 37.
The 32-year old defensive end had interest from multiple teams after putting together his fourth straight season with nine-plus sacks. Since 2016, Addison has the 11th-most sacks (39) in the NFL.
Addison has a close bond with many in the Panthers organization. When his brother was tragically killed mid-season this past year, general manager Marty Hurney and executive director of football staff Mark Carrier both went to Alabama to be there for the funeral. The team dedicated the game ball to him from the outing he missed vs. the Titans and displayed his jersey on the team bench.
The team’s leading pass rusher, Addison desired to stay in Carolina, but the team appears to be headed in a different direction most likely. They signed a new defensive end, Stephen Weatherly from the Vikings, who likely cost less than Addison will.
Addison has always been under the radar, even from his college days, but he was able to make a splash in free agency and find a new home.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Source: Veteran free agent Mario Addison not expected to re-sign with Panthers."
