CHARLOTTE – The Panthers have signed Leonard Johnson, a cornerback with significant starting experience in the NFC South, to a one-year contract.

To make room on the 90-man roster, the Panthers waived cornerback Shaq Richardson, a fifth-round draft choice by the Steelers in 2014 who has yet to appear in a regular season game.

Johnson went undrafted out of Iowa State in 2012 but was signed by the Buccaneers and carved out a role for three seasons as a nickel cornerback, which is an unsettled position for the Panthers entering training camp. He played in 48 games with 17 starts for Tampa Bay from 2012-14, totaling 139 tackles, five interceptions and 20 passes defensed.