South Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers' draft classes have sparked debate over which is the best in franchise history. While the current rookies are performing well, they have yet to reach the heights of some past classes.

Panthers General Manager Dan Morgan, who was part of the 2001 draft class, humorously admitted his bias: "I have an opinion, but I might be biased." The 2001 class included Morgan himself as a first-round pick, followed by Kris Jenkins and Steve Smith. This group contributed significantly to the team's success, including a Super Bowl appearance.

Chris Weinke and Jarrod Cooper also played roles from that year's draft. Weinke had notable moments as a backup quarterback, while Cooper was known for his special teams contributions.

The 1995 draft laid foundational stones for the franchise with players like Kerry Collins and Chad Cota. Collins led the team to an NFC Championship Game and later had a long NFL career. Cota's interception against the Steelers remains memorable.

In 2002, Julius Peppers headlined another strong class. Peppers became a Hall of Famer and finished fourth on the all-time sack list. DeShaun Foster and Will Witherspoon were other key contributors from this year.

The 2005 draft featured Thomas Davis, who overcame injuries to become a star linebacker. Offensive linemen Evan Mathis and Joe Berger also emerged from this class.

The 2007 draft brought Jon Beason, Ryan Kalil, and Charles Johnson into the fold after strategic trades by GM Marty Hurney. These players became cornerstones for years.

Other notable drafts include those in 2012 with Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman; in 2011 with Cam Newton; in 2017 with Christian McCaffrey; and more recent ones like those in 2020 and 2021 featuring promising talents like Jaycee Horn.

ProFootballReference.com's weighted Approximate Value suggests that the inaugural 1995 draft has held up well due to extended careers of its players. However, Morgan believes that either the back-to-back drafts of 2001 or 2002 stand out most due to their immediate impact on team success.

Ultimately, while opinions vary based on different criteria such as longevity or immediate impact, these drafts collectively highlight key moments in Panthers history.