The content below provides a comprehensive overview of all Carolina Panthers draft picks throughout history. It includes interesting facts about the team’s draft selections and a detailed draft history organized by year dating back to 1995. This information will be kept up to date following the 2024 draft and future drafts.
FACTS AND FIGURES
The Panthers have had the privilege of holding the No. 1 overall pick twice, securing a top-five pick on four occasions, and landing a top-10 pick a total of 11 times since their inaugural draft in 1995. It’s noteworthy that this year’s draft will be the first time since 2019 that Carolina, due to not possessing its 2024 first-round pick, won’t be making a selection within the top 10.
Seventeen colleges have produced at least five players who were drafted by the Panthers. The schools with six selections each are Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Stanford, and Washington. Meanwhile, Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Miami (FL), Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech each boast five players who were selected by Carolina.
Breaking it down by position, the Panthers have selected:
11 quarterbacks
20 running backs/fullbacks
25 wide receivers
11 tight ends
37 offensive linemen
24 defensive ends/edge rushers
18 defensive tackles
24 linebackers
23 cornerbacks
42 defensive backs
1 kicker
1 punter
Out of all of Carolina’s draft picks, 12 players achieved First-Team All-Pro honors while playing for the Panthers. Notable players who have earned this distinction include Luke Kuechly (5), Steve Smith (2), Ryan Kalil (2), Julius Peppers (2), Kris Jenkins (2), Jon Beason, Cam Newton, Jordan Gross, Thomas Davis, Christian McCaffrey, Muhsin Muhammad, and Josh Norman.
Eleven of the Panthers’ draft choices stayed with the team for at least 10 seasons. This group includes Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Ryan Kalil, Charles Johnson, Thomas Davis, Jordan Gross, Julius Peppers, Steve Smith, Mike Minter, Kris Mangum, and Muhsin Muhammad.
Peppers stands out as the sole Carolina draft pick to earn a place in the Hall of Fame. He will be inducted on August 3 as part of the 2024 class, alongside other inductees like Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Devin Hester, and Andre Johnson. Peppers currently ranks fourth in NFL history for career sacks with an impressive total of 159.5.
DRAFT HISTORY (SORTED BY YEAR)
Some of the key picks made by the Carolina Panthers over the years:
1995
Round 1, Pick 5: Kerry Collins, QB, Penn State
Round 1, Pick 22: Tyrone Poole, CB, Fort Valley State
… (remaining picks) …
1996
Round 1, Pick 8: Tim Biakabutuka, RB, Michigan
Round 2, Pick 43: Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Michigan State
… (remaining picks) …
…. (content for other draft years) ….