Panthers hoping 3rd-round pick DJ Johnson meets ‘huge upside’

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Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer has preached about never wanting to draft for need. But did he just make an exception?

On Friday night, Fitterer not only drafted, but traded up for a raw prospect in outside linebacker DJ Johnson. He, however, believes the University of Oregon defender has a real chance to become a major factor for the Panthers.

“You never wanna force a need, but this is a 6-4, 260-pound guy that ran a 4.4,” he said. “He’s got rare traits. And with our staff and the conviction that EJ [Ejiro Evero] and Dom [Capers] and our coaching staff had with him, the way our scouts felt about him—there’s a ton of development with him. And his upside is huge. He’s played tight end, he’s played defensive end. Once he settles in and he gets the coaching, this guy can be a force off the edge and I think his best ball’s in front of him.”

The ball that’s behind him doesn’t say a whole lot, at least on paper. Johnson recorded just 9.0 sacks over his four seasons in Eugene.

Luckily, though, that doesn’t tell the entire story. Johnson’s versatility—as displayed by his snaps on the line, in the middle, in the secondary and even at tight end—shows he’s a massive bunch of clay waiting to be molded.

And with the super staff this organization has now employed, Johnson could have some artists awaiting him in Charlotte.

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