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Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Scheme: 4-3

Starter: Mario Addison

NFL1000 Scores: 64.6/100

NFL1000 Rank: 46/68

Mario Addison signed a three-year deal worth $22.5 million this offseason. That's a starting contract. Addison will turn 30 years old before Week 1 of the NFL campaign is over, and he only has 25.5 career sacks, but he's going to be a starter in Carolina for at least two years, based on that contract.

The former undrafted free agent made just one start last season, but the Panthers are clearly doubling down on a pass-rushing unit that many thought was weak last year. The question now is if Addison's contract is worth his production. In the first eight weeks of the season, Addison had just 1.5 sacks, but he added eight sacks down the stretch.

He's the 2017 version of Robert Ayers, who in 2015 put together a late stretch of sacks in a contract season and parlayed that into a significant deal.

Starter: Charles Johnson

NFL1000 Scores: 66.5/100

NFL1000 Rank: 24/68

Charles Johnson took a one-year prove-it deal after a one-sack 2015. After a four-sack 2016, he signed a two-year, $8 million pact. Johnson will be 31 before the season starts. He's not much of a pass-rusher, but he must be doing enough as a locker room presence to warrant his starting role.

Between Addison, Johnson and Julius Peppers, there may not be another team in the NFL paying three different aging pass-rushers this much money in 2017 and 2018. Not only is the team tied into declining players, but also those immovable contracts, at least immediately, are clogging up space that could be used for developmental edge defenders down the line.

Considering the fact that the Panthers don't put an athleticism premium on the position, it's hard to imagine they'd pick someone who can contribute on special teams, which only hurts a defensive end's chance of making the roster as a buried talent.

Backup: Julius Peppers

NFL1000 Scores: 68.0/100

NFL1000 Rank: 29/65 (Graded at OLB)

Peppers was drafted with the second overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2002, keeping the Tar Heel in-state. He eventually left in free agency for the Chicago Bears, then signed with the Green Bay Packers after his release from Chicago.

Peppers has posted at least seven sacks in 14 of his 15 seasons, but his one-year, $3.5 million contract would suggest that he's coming off the bench as a 37-year-old, which might not be the worst idea if the team plans to make a deep playoff run.

Backup: Wes Horton

NFL1000 Scores: 68.2/100

NFL1000 Rank: 16/68

Wes Horton has 8.5 career sacks and has started 27 games for the Carolina Panthers since the 2014 regular season. Those numbers just don't add up. While he might be able to create pressure, he's just not getting home enough to warrant a starting role much longer.

With the team doubling up on the Addison and Johnson contracts, and signing Peppers and trading Kony Ealy, it seems confident in its top three pass-rushers, which means Horton will be lost in the shuffle.

Backup: Ryan Delaire

NFL1000 Scores: 64.2/100

NFL1000 Rank: 50/68

With the trade of Ealy to the New England Patriots, there's a clearer path for Ryan Delaire to make the roster in 2017. The 25-year-old is going into his third NFL season with 15 of 32 possible games played, no starts and 3.5 career sacks.

The undrafted player out of Towson spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins in 2015, too. Most of his career with the Panthers has included shuffling between the practice squad and active roster and then between the active and inactive list on game day. He's a body, and if the Panthers can't add a better fifth body in their rotation, he'll make the team.

Team Need: 4/10

Potential Draft Fits: Taco Charlton, Michigan; Derek Barnett, Tennessee; Tarell Basham, Ohio