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Carolina Panthers: Top 5 offseason additions, post 2018 NFL Draft

By Russell S. Baxter

SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 13: C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball as he is followed by Caraun Reid #91 of the San Diego Chargers during the fourth quarter of a 21-13 Charger win at Qualcomm Stadium on October 13, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 13: C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball as he is followed by Caraun Reid #91 of the San Diego Chargers during the fourth quarter of a 21-13 Charger win at Qualcomm Stadium on October 13, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 7: Dontari Poe #92 of the Atlanta Falcons gets set for a play against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 7: Dontari Poe #92 of the Atlanta Falcons gets set for a play against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

4. Dontari Poe, DT (from Atlanta Falcons)

Only six teams in the NFL allowed fewer total yards per game this past season than Ron Rivera’s squad. And only the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and NFC North titlists Minnesota Vikings permitted fewer yards on the ground than the Carolina Panthers. But this offseason, the team saw some big-time changes to their defensive front.

Veteran end Charles Johnson was released after 11 seasons with the club. And one-time first-round defensive tackle Star Lotulelei signed on with his old defensive coordinator, inking a lucrative deal with head coach Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills in March. But it’s also worth noting that while the reliable performer made 75 regular-season starts in five seasons, Lotulelei graded out as one of the worst run-defending players at his position via the staff at Pro Football Focus.

So the addition of former Pro Bowler Dontari Poe, now with a different team for the third consecutive year, should make this defensive front a bit more formidable. Including last year’s postseason, the Panthers dropped three games to the New Orleans Saints in 2017.

While Carolina limited Sean Payton’s club to 41 yards on the ground in the postseason, Rivera’s defenders allowed 149 and 148 yards rushing, respectively, in a pair of regular-season losses to the reigning NFC South champions. Poe, who spent 2017 with the Atlanta Falcons, will pair inside with Kawann Short to give the Panthers some added punch.

Next: No. 3

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