Carolina Panthers NFL Draft History: Running Back review

As the NFL Draft approaches, take a look back at the Carolina Panthers history of positional picks and their first-year production…

The NFL Draft is arguably the most important off-season time for any team, Carolina Panthers included, because it gives everyone an opportunity to fix holes on their roster and prepare for the next season.

As players age or injuries occur, the draft picks selected every April ultimately can set a team up for success or failure during the coming year. Following is a review of the Panthers running back position and the production those draft picks produced during their rookie seasons.

Let’s take a look at which home-grown Panthers made an immediate contribution to the team.

Carolina Panthers Drafted Running Backs: Rookie Season
Year	Name	Rd	Pick	RusY	RusTD	Rec	RecY	RecTD	YScm	TD’s
1996	Tim Biakabutuka	1st	8	229	0	0	0	0	229	0
1996	Winslow Oliver	3rd	73	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1996	Marquette Smith	5th	142	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1996	Scott Greene	6th	193	0	0	2	7	1	7	1
2001	Dee Brown	6th	175	360	4	27	86	1	446	5
2002	DeShaun Foster	2nd	34	429	0	26	207	2	636	2
2002	Kyle Johnson	5th	145	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	Casey Moore	7th	247	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	Eric Shelton	2nd	54	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	DeAngelo Williams	1st	27	501	1	33	313	1	814	2
2008	Jonathan Stewart	1st	13	836	10	8	47	0	883	10
2009	Mike Goodson	4th	111	49	0	2	15	0	64	0
2009	Tony Fiammetta	4th	128	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	Kenjon Barner	6th	182	7	0	2	7	0	14	0
2014	Tyler Gaffney	6th	182	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	Cameron Artis-Payne	5th	174	183	1	5	58	0	241	1
2017	Christian McCaffrey	1st	8	435	2	80	651	5	1086	7

1995: No running back draft selections

1996: The first running back drafted by the Panthers was Tim Biakabutuka, selected with the eighth overall pick. He eventually became the all-time rushing leader for Carolina, a position he held until 2006. Currently, he remains sixth all time. The Panthers drafted three other running backs, however Scott Greene was the only running back to record any rushing statistics.

Carolina Panthers /

Carolina Panthers

1997-2000: No running back draft selections

2001: Dee Brown was selected with the 175th pick. He was used primarily as a change of pace running back and compiled most of his career stats during his rookie season.

2002: DeShaun Foster was drafted in the second round and put together the most productive rookie season for a Carolina running back. Along with Stephen Davis, Foster was a pivotal part of the Super Bowl run in 2003. Foster is currently fourth all-time in rushing yards. Kyle Johnson was later drafted in the fifth-round with the 145th pick but while Johnson failed to record any rookie stats, he eventually became a receiving target out of the backfield.

2003: Casey Moore was selected in the seventh round with the 247th pick of the draft, he was only 15 picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant, the final player selected.

2004: No running back draft selections

2005: Eric Shelton failed to record any stats his rookie season and ended his career with just 29 career yards from scrimmage.

2006: DeAngelo Williams was taken 27th overall in the first round and would break the rookie rushing record. Over the next eight years he would earn one Pro Bowl appearance and become the two-time NFL rushing touchdown leader. He eventually became the Panthers all-time rushing leader, a position he would hold until 2017. Currently he remains second all-time.

2007: No running back draft selections

2008: Jonathan Stewart was taken with the 13th pick and broke the rookie rushing record from yards and touchdowns, previously held by Williams. His second year in the league alongside Williams, he became a part of the first NFL tandem to rush for more than 1,100 yards. In 2015 he was nominated to his first Pro Bowl and in 2017 became the Panthers all time rushing leader.

2009: Two fourth-round draft picks were used on running backs Mike Goodson and Tony Fiammetta. Goodson was taken one pick before Glover Quinn, who led the league in interceptions five years later.

2010-2012: No running back draft selections

2013: Kenjon Barner had six rushing attempts in a Panthers uniform and is currently playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

2014: Tyler Gaffney was drafted with the 182nd pick but never played a down for Carolina.

2015: Cameron Artis-Payne was drafted and has found very limited playing time. To this point, he has averaged just over 100-yards and a touchdown per season.

2016: No running back draft selections

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2017: Finally, for the second time in Carolina history the Panthers spent the 8th overall pick on a running back, Christian McCaffrey. He finished the season setting the following rookie records: yards from scrimmage, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He finished 2nd in touchdowns and 3rd in rushing yards among rookies. Currently, he holds the single season record for receptions and receiving yards by a running back.

From “Double Trouble,” the running back duo of Williams and Stewart, to wasted fourth-round picks in 2009 the Panthers have had a pretty underwhelming history drafting running backs. With 17 players selected, there have only been two Pro Bowl appearances over the 22-plus years of drafted players. Hopefully the accolades for McCaffrey racked up during his first year will be indicators for great years to come.

Next: Panthers Could Have Had Both RoY Winners

Although the Panthers have selected only four running backs during the first-round in franchise history, each went on to contribute considerably. From Biakabutuka to Stewart the position has endured an incredible amount of fluidity but someone needs to secure the number one position moving forward.

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