Panthers trade for Bills defensive end Darryl Johnson. Here are the deal’s details

While Buffalo is the home to many former Carolina Panthers players, a former Bill is now headed to Charlotte.

The team has traded a 2022 sixth-round draft pick for Bills defensive end Darryl Johnson. The former North Carolina A&T player was originally selected by Buffalo in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft. He will play a role on special teams and add depth to the Panthers defense.

Johnson, 24, has not started any games in the last two years, but has played in a combined 31 games with 29 tackles, two sacks and five quarterback hits. He was expected to make the Bills’ team, but he grew frustrated with his lack of playing time, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

The 6-foot-6, 253-pound defensive end will be a key special teams contributor for the Panthers, especially with the team’s lack of depth at linebacker. He played on at least 60% of the Bills special teams snaps in 2019 and 2020.

The Panthers now have six picks in the 2022 NFL draft, although that will almost certainly change. General manager Scott Fitterer has executed four trades in the last 14 days. Fitterer has made 11 trades since becoming general manager in January. During his opening press conference, the first-time GM said that the team would be “in on every deal.” The team made just 11 trades from 2018-20, as noted by the Panthers.

Currently the Panthers have a selection in the first, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of the 2022 draft. The higher of the two sixth-round picks the Panthers’ currently own — one via the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade of linebacker Denzel Perryman — will go to the Bills.

There are a number of former Panthers on the current Bills defensive line, including Mario Addison, Efe Obada, Vernon Butler and Star Lotulelei.

New assistant general manager Dan Morgan previously worked for the Bills as director of player personnel. Morgan was familiar with Johnson and was a advocate to bring him to the Panthers, the league source said.

Teams have to cut down rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m Tuesday. The roster now stands at 72. The Panthers open the season at home Sept. 12 against the New York Jets.

This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Panthers trade for Bills defensive end Darryl Johnson. Here are the deal’s details."