Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer really seemed to have wanted a pass rusher this spring. So, he went up and got one on Friday night.
In exchange for their third-round pick (93rd overall) and their second of two fourth-rounders (132nd), the Panthers acquired the 80th selection of the 2023 NFL draft from the Pittsburgh Steelers. And with that pick came University of Oregon outside linebacker DJ Johnson.
A Sacramento, Cali. native, Johnson was a four-star recruit out of nearby Luther Burbank. After turning down offers from the very best programs in the nation—a group that included Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Washington and Oregon—he opted to go to the University of Miami (Fla.) for his 2017 campaign.
He appeared in eight games as a Hurricane and amassed just three tackles. So, he moved on—to that last school in the aforementioned bunch in Eugene.
Johnson played four seasons for the Ducks. From 2019 to 2022, he totaled 64 tackles (15.5 for a loss) and 9.0 sacks while even chalking up 124 yards on 11 receptions as a tight end.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, who ran a ridiculous 4.49-second 40-yard dash, will try to burst into Carolina’s pass-rushing rotation as an edge defender in their new 3-4 base.
