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 in preparation for the upcoming 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 year. Following is a review of the Panthers wide receiver 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.
| Year | Name | Rd | Pk | Pos | Rec | RecY | RecTD | RusY | RusTD | YScm |
| 1996 | Donnell Baker | 7 | 217 | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1996 | Muhsin Muhammad | 2 | 43 | WR | 25 | 407 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 406 |
| 1997 | Rae Carruth | 1 | 27 | WR | 44 | 545 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 568 |
| 1998 | Jim Turner | 7 | 228 | WR | 3 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 |
| 1998 | Donald Hayes | 4 | 106 | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | Steve Smith | 3 | 74 | WR | 10 | 154 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 197 |
| 2003 | Walter Young | 7 | 226 | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | Drew Carter | 5 | 163 | WR | 5 | 103 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 103 |
| 2004 | Keary Colbert | 2 | 62 | WR | 47 | 754 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 754 |
| 2007 | Ryne Robinson | 4 | 118 | WR | 4 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| 2007 | Dwayne Jarrett | 2 | 45 | WR | 6 | 73 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 84 |
| 2010 | David Gettis | 6 | 198 | WR | 37 | 508 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 510 |
| 2010 | Armanti Edwards | 3 | 89 | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2010 | Brandon LaFell | 3 | 78 | WR | 38 | 468 | 1 | 60 | 528 | |
| 2011 | Kealoha Pilares | 5 | 132 | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | Joe Adams | 4 | 104 | WR | 1 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| 2014 | Kelvin Benjamin | 1 | 28 | WR | 73 | 1008 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1008 |
| 2015 | Devin Funchess | 2 | 41 | WR | 31 | 473 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Curtis Samuel | 2 | 40 | WR | 15 | 115 | 0 | 64 | 0 | 179 |
1995-2000
1995: No wide receivers draft selections
1996: Muhsin Muhammad was taken in the second round with the 43rd overall pick. His first season he was used at the third option to Mark Carrier and Willie Green. He went on to make two Pro Bowls and is currently the second all time receiving leader for the Panthers.
1997: Rae Carruth, the biggest draft bust in Panthers history due to his off the field issues. Carruth still remains the highest selected wide receiver in the draft as well as one of the least productive.
1998: Jim Turner was selected in the seventh round with the 228th pick.
1999 – 2000: No wide receivers draft selections
2001-2006
2001: Arguably the best draft selection in Carolina Panther history, drafted in the 3rd round with the 73rd pick Steve Smith began his campaign into Canton. He went on to five Pro Bowls and in 2005 he became the fifteenth player to take home the triple crown (most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns). He finished his career 7th all time in all-purpose yards and receiving yards, 12th in receptions, and 25th in touchdown receptions.
2002: No wide receiver draft selections
2003: Walter Young never caught a pass as a Carolina Panther.
2004: Keary Colbert set the rookie record for receiving yards until it was broken in 2014. Drew Carter finished with his first year with a 20.6 yard per reception record but never amounted to much more.
2005 – 2006: No wide receivers draft selections
2007-2013
2007: Ryne Robinson was primarily used as a return man.
2008 – 2009: No wide receivers draft selections
2010: Brandon LaFell is currently eighth all time in Panthers history but the Armanti Edwards experiment never panned out, though he did win a Grey Cup in 2017.
2011: Kealoha Pilares was primarily a return man during his two years in Carolina.
2012: Joe Adams, had that great return in Arkansas and couldn’t even come close to replicating that production in the NFL.
2013: No wide receivers draft selections
2014-Present
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2014: Kelvin Benjamin was drafted in the first round with the 28th pick. He went on to set the rookie record for receptions and yards. Currently he is the seventh all-time leading receiver.
2015: Devin Funchess ended up the third receiving option behind Ted Ginn and Philly Brown. Hopefully after half a year starting as the No. 1 receiver he’ll be ready to pass Kelvin Benjamin on the all-time receiving list.
2016: No wide receivers draft selections
2017: Curtis Samuel had a rookie season derailed by injuries.
For the most part the Panthers have rarely used high draft selections on wide receivers. Instead, receiver draft picks have primarily been used in the later rounds on speedy kick returners.
During an offseason where the hottest topic is to surround quarterback Cam Newton with some talent on the outside, it’s going to be important that the Panthers do their research and try to finally find a difference maker that can be an instant impact.