Panthers 2021 Draft: 5 best picks at No. 8 overall of all-time
1. Ronnie Lott – DB
- Team – San Francisco 49ers
The best player to ever be drafted No. 8 overall is undoubtedly Ronnie Lott. He played high school ball in California, went on to star at USC, and was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in 1981.
Lott was apart of an impressive draft class that was packed with eventual Hall of Fame defensive players like Lawrence Taylor, Kenny Easley, Mike Singletary, Rickey Jackson, and Howie Long. Something the Carolina Panthers could use with their upcoming selections in 2021.
Like many great players, Lott was impactful from the beginning.
He helped the 49ers win Super Bowl XVI as starting cornerback in his rookie season. During his time in San Francisco that spanned a decade, the six-time All-Pro won eight NFC West Division titles and four Super Bowls.
Lott would come to be known as a hard-hitting, versatile, defensive back and he retired with 1,146 tackles, 63 interceptions, and five touchdowns. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, first ballot, in 2000 and is a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-1980s and All-1990s team.
Although it might have been a disappointment for Carolina’s loyal fanbase that they aren’t picking in the top-five this year thanks to their win at the Washington Football Team in Week 16, they still have the opportunity to select a generational talent that can make a significant difference to their rebuild.