The following is a look at every draft pick in Carolina Panthers history. Along with some quick facts about Carolina's draft selections, there is also an entire draft history separated by year beginning with the team's first pick back in 1995. This post will be updated following the 2024 draft and any subsequent drafts.
FACTS AND FIGURES
The Panthers have had the No. 1 overall pick twice, a top-five pick four times and a top-10 pick 11 times since their first draft in 1995. This year’s draft will mark the first time since 2019 that Carolina — which doesn’t own its 2024 first-round pick — isn’t picking inside the top 10.
There are 17 colleges that have had at least five players drafted by the Panthers. Tied with six apiece are Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Carolina, Stanford and Washington. Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Miami (FL), Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech have all had five players selected by Carolina.
Breaking things down by position, the Panthers has drafted:
11 quarterbacks
20 running backs/full backs
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
Of Carolina’s draft picks, 12 players earned First-Team All-Pro honors while playing for the Panthers: 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’ selections played at least 10 seasons with the team: Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Ryan Kalil, Charles Johnson, Thomas Davis, Jordan Gross, Julius Peppers, Steve Smith, Mike Minter, Kris Mangum and Muhsin Muhammad.
Peppers is the only one of Carolina's draft picks to make it to the Hall of Fame. He will be inducted on Aug. 3 as part of the 2024 class along with Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Devin Hester and Andre Johnson.
The North Carolina native ranks fourth in NFL history in career sacks with 159.5.
DRAFT HISTORY (SORTED BY YEAR)
1995
Round 1, Pick 5: Kerry Collins, QB, Penn State
Round 1, Pick 22: Tyrone Poole, CB, Fort Valley State
Round 1, Pick 29: Blake Brocker, OT, Texas
Round 2, Pick 36: Shawn King, DE, Louisiana-Monroe
Round 4, Pick 132: Frank Garcia, C, Washington
Round 5, Pick 135: Michael Senters, WR, Northwestern
Round 5, Pick 171: Andrew Peterson, OT, Washington
Round 6, Pick 188: Steve Strahan, DT, Baylor
Round 6, Pick 191: Jerry Colquitt, QB, Tennessee
Round 7, Pick 209: Chad Cota, S, Oregon
Round 7, Pick 249: Michael Reed, CB, Boston College
1996
Round 1, Pick 8: Tim Biakabutuka, RB, Michigan
Round 2, Pick 43: Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Michigan State
Round 3, Pick 73: Winslow Oliver, RB, New Mexico
Round 3, Pick 88: J.C. Price, DT, Virginia Tech
Round 4, Pick 106: Norbert Davidds-Garrido, OT, USC
Round 4, Pick 111: Emanuel McDaniel, DB, East Carolina
Round 5, Pick 142: Marquette Smith, RB, UCF
Round 6, Pick 193: Scott Greene, RB, Michigan State
Round 7, Pick 217: Donnell Baker, WR, Southern
Round 7, Pick 234: Kerry Hicks, DE, Colorado
Muhsin "Moose" Muhamad is a Panthers icon and a top-notch storyteller.
— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) April 17, 2024
We talked NFL draft, Nick Saban, shushing the crowd in Philly, that Super Bowl catch and much more in the latest "Sports Legends of the Carolinas" interview.
Only in @theobserver: https://t.co/rxwK7rOzZ3
1997
Round 1, Pick 27: Rae Carruth, WR, Colorado
Round 2, Pick 56: Mike Minter, S, Nebraska
Round 3, Pick 87: Kinnon Tatum, LB, Notre Dame
Round 4, Pick 122: Tarek Salah, LB, Wisconsin
Round 6, Pick 189: Matt Finkes, DE, Ohio State
Round 7, Pick 228: Kris Mangum, TE, Ole Miss
1998
Round 1, Pick 14: Jason Peter, DE, Nebraska
Round 3, Pick 62: Chuck Wiley, DE, LSU
Round 3, Pick 73: Mitch Marrow, DE, Penn
Round 4, Pick 106: Donald Hayes, WR, Wisconsin
Round 5, Pick 136: Jerry Jensen, LB, Washington
Round 5, Pick 165: Damien Richardson, DB, Arizona State
Round 7, Pick 196: Villami Maumau, DT, Colorado
Round 7, Pick 228: Jim Turner, WR, Syracuse
1999
Round 2, Pick 34: Chris Terry, OT, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 38: Mike Rucker, DE, Nebraska
Round 4, Pick 100: Hannibal Navies, LB, Colorado
Round 6, Pick 175: Robert Daniel, DE, Northwestern State
Round 7, Pick 211: Tony Booth, DB, James Madison
2000
Round 1, Pick 23: Rashard Anderson, DB, Jackson State
Round 2, Pick 57: Deon Grant, S, Tennessee
Round 3, Pick 82: Leander Jordan, OT, Indiana (Pa.)
Round 4, Pick 120: Alvin McKinley, DE, Mississippi State
Round 5, Pick 147: Gillis Wilson, DE, Southern
Round 6, Pick 182: Jeno James, OG, Auburn
Round 7, Pick 221: Lester Towns, LB, Washington
2001
Round 1, Pick 11: Dan Morgan, LB, Miami
Round 2, Pick 44: Kris Jenkins, DT, Maryland
Round 3, Pick 74: Steve Smith, WR, Utah
Round 4, Pick 106: Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State
Round 5, Pick 143: Jarrod Cooper, S, Kansas State
Round 6, Pick 175: Dee Brown, RB, Syracuse
Round 7, Pick 211: Louis Williams, C, LSU
Round 7, Pick 227: Mike Roberg, TE, Idaho
2003 NFC Divisional: @Panthers vs. Rams
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) January 10, 2020
On the first play of the second overtime... Steve Smith Sr. goes the distance! #KeepPounding (Jan. 10, 2004) pic.twitter.com/1U4rQN6Okg
2002
Round 1, Pick 2: Julius Peppers, DE, North Carolina
Round 2, Pick 34: Deshaun Foster, RB, UCLA
Round 3, Pick 73: Will Witherspoon, LB, Georgia
Round 4, Pick 100: Dante Wesley, DB, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Round 5, Pick 137: Randy Fasani, QB, Stanford
Round 5, Pick 145: Kyle Johnson, RB, Syracuse
Round 6, Pick 174: Keith Heinrich, TE, Sam Houston State
Round 7, Pick 213: Pete Campion, OG, North Dakota State
Round 7, Pick 258: Brad Franklin, DB, Louisiana
In case any of y’all forgot.
— Michael Rimmer (@avl_mike) December 28, 2023
Julius Peppers highlights 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/InPTtPaR9l
2003
Round 1, Pick 8: Jordan Gross, OT, Utah
Round 2, Pick 50: Bruce Nelson, OG, Iowa
Round 3, Pick 76: Mike Seidman, TE, UCLA
Round 3, Pick 82: Ricky Manning, CB, UCLA
Round 4, Pick 119: Colin Branch, S, Stanford
Round 5 Pick 145: Kindal Moorehead, DT, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 226: Walter Young, WR, Illinois
Round 7, Pick 247: Casey Moore, RB, Stanford
2004
Round 1, Pick 28: Chris Gamble, CB, Ohio State
Round 2, Pick 62: Keary Colbert, WR, USC
Round 3, Pick 94: Travelle Wharton, OT, South Carolina
Round 5, Pick 163: Drew Carter, WR, Ohio State
Round 6, Pick 196: Sean Tufts, LB, Colorado
Round 7, Pick 232: Michael Gaines, TE, UCF
2005
Round 1, Pick 14: Thomas Davis, LB, Georgia
Round 2, Pick 54: Eric Shelton, RB, Louisville
Round 3, Pick 79: Evan Mathis, OG, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 89: Atiyyah Ellison, DT, Missouri
Round 4, Pick 121: Stefan Lefors, QB, Louisville
Round 5, Pick 149: Adam Seward, LB, UNLV
Round 5, Pick 169: Geoff Hangartner, C, Texas A&M
Round 5, Pick 171: Ben Emanuel, DB, UCLA
Round 6, Pick 189: Jovan Haye, DE, Vanderbilt
Round 6, Pick 207: Joe Berger, OT, Michigan Tech
2006
Round 1, Pick 27: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Round 2, Pick 58: Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State
Round 3, Pick 88: James Anderson, LB, Virginia Tech
Round 3, Pick 89: Rashad Butler, OT, Miami
Round 4, Pick 121: Nate Salley, S, Ohio State
Round 5, Pick 155: Jeff King, TE, Virginia Tech
Round 7, Pick 234: Will Montgomery, OG, Virginia Tech
DeAngelo Williams used to EATpic.twitter.com/X8GRKe2eLy
— =͟͟͞Blande (@JustBlande) December 28, 2023
2007
Round 1, Pick 25: Jon Beason, LB, Miami
Round 2, Pick 45: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
Round 2, Pick 59: Ryan Kalil, C, USC
Round 3, Pick 83: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
Round 4, Pick 118: Ryne Robinson, WR, Miami (OH)
Round 5, Pick 155: Dante Rosario, TE, Oregon
Round 5, Pick 164: Tim Shaw, LB, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 226: C.J. Wilson, CB, Baylor
2008
Round 1, Pick 13: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Round 1, Pick 19: Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh
Round 3, Pick 67: Charles Godfrey, CB, Iowa
Round 3, Pick 74: Dan Connor, LB, Penn State
Round 5, Pick 141: Gary Barnidge, TE, Louisville
Round 6, Pick 181: Nick Hayden, DT, Wisconsin
Round 7, Pick 221: Hilee Taylor, DE, North Carolina
Round 7, Pick 241: Geoff Schwartz, OT, Oregon
Round 7, Pick 250: Mackenzy Bernadeau, OG, Bentley
2009
Round 2, Pick 43: Everrette Brown, DE, Florida State
Round 2, Pick 59: Sherrod Martin, S, Troy
Round 3, Pick 93: Corey Irvin, DT, Georgia
Round 4, Pick 111: Mike Goodson, RB, Texas A&M
Round 4, Pick 128: Tony Fiammetta, FB, Syracuse
Round 5, Pick 163: Duke Robinson, OT, Oklahoma
Round 7, Pick 216: Captain Munnerlyn, CB, South Carolina
2010
Round 2, Pick 48: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Round 3, Pick 78: Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
Round 3, Pick 89: Armanti Edwards, WR, Appalachian State
Round 4, Pick 124: Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina
Round 6, Pick 175: Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss
Round 6, Pick 198: David Gettis, WR, Baylor
Round 6, Pick 202: Jordan Pugh, S, Texas A&M
Round 6, Pick 204: Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
Round 7, Pick 223: R.J. Stanford, CB, Utah
Round 7, Pick 249: Robert McClain, CB, Connecticut
2011
Round 1, Pick 1: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Round 3, Pick 65: Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida
Round 3, Pick 97: Sione Fua, DT, Stanford
Round 4, Pick 98: Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia
Round 5, Pick 132: Kealoha Pilares, WR, Hawaii
Round 6, Pick 166: Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut
Round 6, Pick 203: Zachary Williams, C, Washington State
Round 7, Pick 244: Lee Ziemba, OT, Auburn
Cam Newton's Panthers highlights are special 🤩
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 6, 2021
(via @nflthrowback)pic.twitter.com/CHhTOeGK6R
2012
Round 1, Pick 9: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
Round 2, Pick 40: Amini Silatolu, OG, Midwestern State
Round 4, Pick 103: Frank Alexander, DE, Oklahoma
Round 4, Pick 104: Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
Round 5, Pick 143: Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina
Round 6, Pick 207: Brad Nortman, P, Wisconsin
Round 7, Pick 216: D.J. Campbell, S, California
2013
Round 1, Pick 14: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
Round 2, Pick 44: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
Round 4, Pick 108: Edmund Kugbila, OG, Valdosta State
Round 5, Pick 148: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State
Round 6, Pick 182: Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon
2014
Round 1, Pick 28: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State
Round 2, Pick 60: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri
Round 3, Pick 92: Trai Turner, OG, LSU
Round 4, Pick 128: Tre Boston, S, North Carolina
Round 5, Pick 148: Bene Benwikere, CB, San Jose State
Round 6, Pick 204: Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford
2015
Round 1, Pick 25: Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Round 2, Pick 41: Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Round 4, Pick 102: Daryl Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Round 5, Pick 169: David Mayo, LB, Texas State
Round 5, Pick 174: Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Auburn
2016
Round 1, Pick 31: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
Round 2, Pick 62: James Bradberry, CB, Samford
Round 3, Pick 77: Daryl Worley, CB, West Virginia
Round 5, Pick 141: Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma
Round 7, Pick 252: Beau Sandland, TE, Montana State
2017
Round 1, Pick 8: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Round 2, Pick 40: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
Round 2, Pick 64: Taylor Moton, OT, Western Michigan
Round 3, Pick 77: Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M
Round 5, Pick 152: Corn Elder, CB, Miami
Round 6, Pick 192: Alex Armah, FB, West Georgia
Round 7, Pick 233: Harrison Butker, K, Georgia Tech
You can't ever get tired of watching Christian McCaffrey highlights.
— The Riot Report (@RRiotReport) June 7, 2022
The dual-threat RB turns 26 today and #Panthers fans can't wait to see him back on the field.
🎥:@NFLpic.twitter.com/uGKbVIaZJv
2018
Round 1, Pick 24: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
Round 2, Pick 55: Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
Round 3, Pick 85: Rashaan Gaulden, S, Tennessee
Round 4, Pick 101: Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana
Round 4, Pick 136: Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss
Round 5, Pick 161: Jermaine Carter, LB, Maryland
Round 7, Pick 234: Andre Smith, LB, North Carolina
Round 7, Pick 242: Kendrick Norton DT, Miami
2019
Round 1, Pick 16: Brian Burns, DE, Florida State
Round 2, Pick 37: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
Round 3, Pick 100: Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
Round 4, Pick 115: Christian Miller, LB, Alabama
Round 5, Pick 154: Jordan Scarlett, RB, Florida
Round 6, Pick 212: Dennis Daley, OT, South Carolina
Round 7, Pick 237: Terry Godwin, WR, Georgia
2020
Round 1, Pick 7: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Round 2, Pick 38: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Round 2, Pick 64: Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Round 4, Pick 113: Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame
Round 5, Pick 152: Kenny Robinson, S, West Virginia
Round 6, Pick 184: Bravvion Roy, DT, Baylor
Round 7, Pick 221: Stanley Thomas-Oliver III, CB, Florida International
The Panthers and Derrick Brown have agreed on a 4-year, $96M extension, per @AdamSchefter 💰 pic.twitter.com/0mvatQHblv
— PFF (@PFF) April 5, 2024
2021
Round 1, Pick 8: Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
Round 2, Pick 59: Terrace Marshall, WR, LSU
Round 3, Pick 70: Brady Christensen, OT, BYU
Round 3, Pick 83: Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame
Round 4, Pick 126: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Round 5, Pick 158: Daviyon Dixon, DT, Iowa
Round 5, Pick 166: Keith Taylor, CB, Washington
Round 6, Pick 193: Deonte Brown, OG, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 204: Shi Smith, WR, South Carolina
Round 6, Pick 222: Thomas Fletcher, LS, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 232: Phil Hoskins, DT, Kentucky
2022
Round 1, Pick 6: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State
Round 3, Pick 94: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Round 4, Pick 120: Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 189: Amare Barno, DE, Virginia Tech
Round 6, Pick 199: Cade Mays, OG, Tennessee
Round 7, Pick 242: Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor
2023
Round 1, Pick 1: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 39: Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Round 3, Pick 80: D.J. Johnson, DE, Oregon
Round 4, Pick 114: Chandler Zavala, OG, N.C. State
Round 5, Pick 145: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
