Carolina Panthers: Top 10 NFL Draft picks of all-time

1. Steve Smith

Drafted in the third round of the 2001 draft (74th overall), the wide receiver from Utah will go down as an icon with the Carolina Panthers.

Steve Smith scored the first time that he touched the ball on a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and things only got better from there. The only thing that could stop Smith during his 16-year career was two leg injuries.

He was as competitive as they come and he never allowed his 5-foot-9 frame to be an excuse. Smith was a first-team All-Pro on two occasions as well as a five-time Pro Bowler. The wideout was the Comeback Player of the Year in 2005 and during that same season, he led the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

He finished his career with 1,090 receptions for 15,732 yards resulting in 90 receiving touchdowns. He also has 432 yards on 62 attempts and four touchdowns. To top it all off he had 2,412 kickoff return yards on 100 attempts with two touchdowns and 1,757 punt return yards on 187 attempts to score five times.

These players have laid the foundation for a franchise that has just recently celebrated its 25th season. As the team enters the Matt Rhule era, it is exciting to anticipate what new talent will be headed to Charlotte and to see how that translates to victories on the field.