The Best Carolina Panthers First-Round Picks In The NFL Draft
Despite the short history of the franchise, the Carolina Panthers' first-round draft picks have made their mark in the NFL. Former MVP Cam Newton, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now, might be the most prominent, but Panthers draft picks like Julius Peppers, Luke Keuchly, and Jon Beason have vindicated the team's draft strategy.
So who has been the top first-round draft pick in Panthers history? The stats below reflect only players' time spent with the Panthers, and that's what you should consider when voting. How much did these players help the team that drafted them?
Overall selection: 9 (2012)
Stats
102 games played, 16 interceptions (1 touchdown), 9 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown), 12.5 sacksAchievements
2013 Defensive Player of the Year
2012 Defensive Rookie of the Year
6-time Pro Bowl selection (2013-2018)
5-time first-team All-Pro selection (2013-2015, 2017-2018)Overall selection: 2 (2002)
Stats
154 games played, 97 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown), 6 interceptions (2 touchdowns)Achievements
2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year
5-time Pro Bowl selection (2004-2006, 2008-2009)
2-time first-team All-Pro (2004, 2006)Overall selection: 14 (2005)
Stats
176 games played, 28 sacks, 13 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown)Achievements
2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year
3-time Pro Bowl selection (2015-2017)
2015 first-team All ProOverall selection: 8 (2017)
Stats
32 games played, 1,533 rushing yards (9 touchdowns), 1,518 receiving yards (11 touchdowns)Overall selection: 24 (2018)
Stats
16 games played, 788 receiving yards (2 touchdowns)Overall selection: 8 (2003)
Stats
167 games played, 7 fumble recoveriesAchievements
3-time Pro Bowl selection (2008, 2010, 2013)
2008 first-team All-ProOverall selection: 1 (2011)
Stats
123 games played, 28,469 passing yards (182 touchdowns, 107 interceptions), 86.4 QB rating, 4,808 rushing yards (58 touchdowns)Achievements
2015 NFL MVP
2015 Offensive Player of the Year
2011 Offenisve Rookie of the Year
3-time Pro Bowl selectoin (2011, 2013, 2015)
2015 first-team All-ProOverall selection: 13 (2008)
Stats
131 games played, 7,318 rushing yards (51 touchdowns), 1,295 receiving yards (7 touchdowns)Achievements
2015 Pro Bowl selectionOverall selection: 27 (2006)
Stats
117 games played, 6,846 rushing yards (46 touchdowns), 1,621 receiving yards (7 touchdowns)Achievements
2009 Pro Bowl selectionOverall selection: 25 (2015)
Stats
56 games played, 6.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown)Overall selection: 22 (1995)
Stats
47 games played, 5 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveriesOverall selection: 11 (2001)
Stats
59 games played, 7 sacks, 5 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveriesAchievements
2004 Pro Bowl selectionOverall selection: 28 (2004)
Stats
123 games played, 27 interceptions (2 touchdowns), 6 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown), 4 fumbles forced)Overall selection: 14 (2013)
Stats
76 games played, 11.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveriesOverall selection: 25 (2007)
Stats
72 games played, 10 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveriesAchievements
3-time Pro Bowl selection (2008-2010)
2008 first-team All-ProOverall selection: 8 (1996)
Stats
50 games played, 2,530 rushing yards (14 touchdowns), 789 receiving yards (3 touchdowns)Overall selection: 5 (1995)
Stats
45 games played, 8,306 passing yards (47 touchdowns, 54 interceptions), 66 QB ratingAchievements
1996 Pro Bowl selectionOverall selection: 28 (2014)
Stats
40 games played, 2,424 receiving yards, 18 touchdownsOverall selection: 30 (2016)
Stats
38 games played, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveriesOverall selection: 29 (1995)
Stats
58 games played, 2 fumble recoveriesOverall selection: 23 (2000)
Stats
27 games played, 3 fumble recoveries (1 touchdown)Overall selection: 14 (1998)
Stats
38 games played, 7.5 sacksOverall selection: 19 (2008)
Stats
29 games played, 2 tacklesOverall selection: 27 (1997)
Stats
22 games played, 804 receiving yards (4 touchdowns)
