Carolina Panthers: 2012 NFL Draft do-over (6 rounds)
By Josh Linares
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. LB. player. BOSTON COLLEGE. LUKEKUECHLY. 9. 87
Carolina Panthers 2012 Draft Pick No. 9: Luke Kuechly (LB)
With their first pick in the draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Luke Kuechly out of Boston College. If there were an entire 2012 redraft for every team, the linebacker would be a top-five pick.
There were some talented players in the first round like Fletcher Cox and Stephon Gilmore who just won defensive player of the year. But neither of them has accomplished what Kuechly did in his eight seasons.
More from Cat Crave
- 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
- 7 free-agent wide receivers the Carolina Panthers could sign in 2023
In Kuechly’s rookie season he had 164 tackles which were his career-high. He also had two interceptions and 12 tackles for loss and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
For the next seven seasons, Kuechly was the most dominant linebacker the league had seen since players like Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher.
From 2013 to 2015 Kuechly was at the top of his game. He had 427 tackles over those three seasons and also had nine interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 26 tackles for loss. He made the Pro Bowl and was named First-Team All-Pro all three seasons.
In 2016 Kuechly battled injury so he only played ten games. He still managed 102 tackles while making a fourth straight Pro Bowl.
Over the next three seasons, Kuechly went back to being the monster linebacker he was before the injury. From 2017 to 2019 he had 399 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 31 tackles for loss. He made the Pro Bowl all three seasons and made First-Team All-Pro in 2017 and 2018.
When you are that active on defense and take that many hits to your body, it takes a toll on your body. This offseason Kuechly announced his retirement from football and no one can blame him.
He put his body on the line every play and was very successful in his eight seasons. Every Panthers fan knows what Luke did for the defense. And everyone is grateful to have seen him play as long as he did.