Carolina Panthers: 5 biggest NFL Draft mistakes in history

1. Tim Biakabutuka over Ray Lewis

Tim Biakabutuka ran for 1,700 yards and 12 touchdowns for the University of Michigan in his final college season. It was one of the most entertaining campaigns a running back has ever had before entering the NFL.

The Carolina Panthers had the eighth pick in the 1996 draft and used it to select Biakabutuka. The decision-makers were thrilled with this choice at the time. And they believed he could be their running back of the future.

More from Cat Crave

• Ranking the top-five QB prospects the Panthers could draft in 2023
• 4 remaining Carolina Panthers cap crunches after Damien Wilson release
• Could Duce Staley help Carolina Panthers land Jamaal Williams in 2023?
• How much could the Carolina Panthers afford to offer Lamar Jackson?
• 4 Panthers rumors to emerge from 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

In Biakabutuka’s first three seasons he only started a total of nine games and ran for five touchdowns. He took the field for three more years for the Panthers. But he never played a full season and failed to eclipse the 700-yard mark in any of them.

The Panthers thought they had their offensive star. But instead, they got a bust who couldn’t stay healthy. To make matters worse, 18 picks after the Carolina selected Biakabutuka, the Baltimore Ravens chose a linebacker from Miami named Ray Lewis.

The ferocious figure would go on to be one of the greatest linebackers of all time. Lewis won two Super Bowls with the Ravens and was a part of some of the best defenses of all time.

The Panthers were still a new franchise at the time. So getting a game-changing player like Lewis would’ve changed everything for them.

They could’ve attracted more free agents and would’ve had a defensive leader for the next decade. Instead, they missed out on him and will always regret taking Biakabutuka over one of the greatest leaders the NFL has ever seen.