The Panthers vowed they would be aggressive in free agency, beginning with locking down their own key players.

Scratch the first name off the top of the priority list.

On the first day of the condensed free agency period, the Panthers announced Tuesday they have reached an agreement on a six-year deal with defensive end Charles Johnson, ensuring the Panthers would not lose a high-priced, high-impact defensive end two years in a row.

The deal could be worth up to $72 million, with $32 million guaranteed - including a $30 million signing bonus, according to a source close to Johnson.

Johnson became the Panthers' top offseason target after he led the team with 11 1/2 sacks last year, helping offset the loss of Julius Peppers. He had just 10 sacks the previous two seasons combined in limited action behind veterans Tyler Brayton and Peppers, who signed a $91.5 million contract ($42 million guaranteed) after the 2009 season.

General manager Marty Hurney, first-year coach Ron Rivera and a couple of the Panthers' defensive coaches took a private jet to Miami to meet with Johnson and his agent Drew Rosenhaus on Tuesday morning at Johnson's offseason home.

Johnson said he was thrilled by the lucrative offer but not shocked.

"They told me the whole time they were going to do that," Johnson said in a phone interview Tuesday night.

Johnson, 25, also drew interest from Atlanta, Johnson's home-state team that was expected to make a hard run at him. But the Panthers acted quickly to secure Johnson, who said he had not received any other offers.

"Once the Panthers put that (offer) out, I guess everybody backed off," he said.

Under the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, Friday is the earliest Johnson can sign the deal. With Johnson taken care of, Hurney can focus his attention on the Panthers' other free agents, including tailback DeAngelo Williams and linebacker James Anderson.

Williams, the Panthers' franchise rushing leader, also was expected to meet with Hurney on Tuesday. Attempts to reach Jimmy Sexton, Williams' agent, were unsuccessful.

Earlier Tuesday, the Panthers agreed to a one-year deal with former St. Louis safety Kevin Payne, according to reports. Payne, who sat out last season after he was given an injury settlement by the Rams, began his career in Chicago. He started 22 of 32 games for the Bears after they drafted him in the fifth round in 2007.

After Rivera and the rest of the Panthers' contingent departed Miami on Tuesday, Johnson celebrated by going to his gym and working out. He said he would continue training hard until Aug. 4, the first day free agents are able to practice under the terms of the new league rules.

Johnson said his goal is to make it to the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl, but he's not necessarily concerned with leading the league in sacks or chasing any other statistical marks.

"If the team's good, all that will come," Johnson said. "I'm not too worried about leading anything. I just want to play."

Johnson said he heard the criticism in recent weeks questioning whether a team should invest in a player who has had only one big season. Johnson said the naysayers do not bother him.

"I love it," he said. "I've never been in this situation where dudes are coming out of the woodwork and saying, 'I'm just going to be a one-year wonder.' But as you can see in my play, I get better every year. So I have to top what I did last year, so I'll just let my play do all the talking."

He sees no reason this season will not be better than last.

"I'm healthy. I had a good offseason. I want to see some big things," Johnson said. "Big money do big things, right?"