Carolina Panthers: 2008 NFL Draft do-over (7 rounds)

Carolina Panthers 2008 Draft: Aqib Talib over Jonathan Stewart (No. 13)

Every true Carolina Panthers’ fan has a huge amount of respect and love for Jonathan Stewart. He has been a big part of the team since he was drafted. And went on to have a productive career at the next level.

It’s painful to say that he wasn’t the best pick for Carolina at the time. He wasn’t a bad selection by any means. But there was just a better player available at this particular spot.

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Aqib Talib is one of the best cornerbacks the league has seen over the last decade. And it seems the older he gets the better he is adjusting. The former Kansas standout didn’t get much playing time in his rookie year because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had two established corners in Ronde Barber and Philip Buchanon. But developing at his own pace proved to be a massive asset.

Even with his limited playing time, he finished with four interceptions. Talib was in Tampa for five years and was then traded to the New England Patriots. This is where he would turn into an elite corner.

Since he was traded to New England, Talib made five Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro in 2016. The player became a true shutdown cornerback during his time under Bill Belichick. And although this came with a fair amount of misdemeanors, the juice was definitely worth the squeeze, so to speak.

If the Panthers would have drafted Talib and stuck with him for the long haul, they had the scope to be set at the position for some time. And it is definitely something they sorely need right now.