We have 5 more NFL Thursday listicles left in this miniseries, including this look at the best players in Carolina Panthers history—which isn’t very long, of course, when compared to last week’s subject matter. We do find it hard to remember, though, that the franchise has played in 2 Super Bowls, which is more than some other long-suffering organizations can say, right? Either way, there are some quality players here …

No. 10: Mike Rucker, DE—64 AV (1999-2007)

A second-round draft pick who made 1 Pro Bowl in his career (2003), he spent all 9 of his NFL seasons with the Panthers franchise. He was versatile on defense, notching 55.5 sacks, 28 passes defended, and 15 forced fumbles in the regular season, while adding 2 sacks and 2 PDs in 7 playoff games. He peaked in 2002 and 2003 with a combined 21 AV, although he was consistently strong in his final 7 seasons before retiring early.

No. 9: Mike Minter, FS/SS—64 AV (1997-2006)

He, too, played his entire NFL career with the Carolina organization, although he never made a Pro Bowl after being picked in the second round. He also never posted double-digit AV in any single year, although he did lead the NFL in pick sixes once (2003). Overall, he produced 69 PDs, 17 interceptions, 11 FFs, and 11 sacks in the regular season; in 7 playoff games, he was quieter: 6 PDs, 1 INT, and a half sack. Still, not a bad career.

No. 8: Ryan Kalil, C—86 AV (2007-2018)

For the better part of a dozen years, he anchored the offensive line, making 5 Pro Bowls (2009-2011, 2013, 2015) after being drafted in the second round. His best years—2011, 2013, 2015—all featured double-digit AV, although those were the only years of his career that he reached those levels. Injuries slowed him down, as he only played in all 16 regular-season games 6 times in those 12 seasons; he did start 8 playoff games.

No. 7: Jordan Gross, T—86 AV (2003-2013)

Despite reaching 3 Pro Bowls (2008, 2010, 2013), he may be the least known guy on this list: the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, he started every game he played in during his career, all with Carolina. But he posted just 1 season of double-digit AV (2008), while missing only 9 games in his 11-year tenure with the team. That’s reliability, for the most part. He also started 9 postseason games in his career, too, somewhat anonymously.

No. 6: Muhsin Muhammad, WR—90 AV (1996-2004, 2008-2009)

In 2 different stints with the team, he was named to 2 Pro Bowls (1999, 2004) while achieving a career Triple Crown of sorts: he led the NFL in receptions once (2000), receiving yards once (2004), and receiving touchdowns once (2004). Not bad for a second rounder, really. He had a dominant 2003 postseason, as the Panthers reached their first Super Bowl, losing to cheaters: 15 receptions, 352 yards, and 2 TDs in 4 games.

No. 5: Thomas Davis, LB—97 AV (2005-2009, 2011-2018)

The No. 14 overall pick, he delivered with 3 straight Pro Bowls (2015-2017) later in his career after missing a whole season in his prime due to injury. Six times in Carolina, he posted triple-digit tackle totals, while also notching 52 PDs, 28 sacks, 18 FFs, and 13 INTs. He was kind of all over the field, really, for the Panthers. He registered 63 tackles, too, in 11 postseason games, helping the team reach its second Super Bowl in 2015.

No. 4: Julius Peppers, DE—106 AV (2002-2009, 2017-2018)

The No. 2 overall pick in the draft, he paid immediate dividends on his way to the Hall of Fame. In 2 different stints for the team, he compiled 97 sacks in 10 seasons, in addition to 50 PDs, 34 FFs, and 2 P6s. In 9 playoff games, he added 4 PDs, 2 sacks, and 1 INT. Overall, he was named to 5 Pro Bowls while a member of the Panthers: 2004-2006, 2008-2009. He also topped the NFL in tackles for loss once (2006). Rock star.

No. 3: Luke Kuechly, LB—107 AV (2012-2019)

In just 8 seasons, he was a comet across the NFL landscape: 7-time Pro Bowler (2013-2019), the top tackler twice (2012, 2014), and the voted Defensive ROTY (2012). He cracked triple digits in total tackles every year of career, while compiling 66 PDs, 18 INTs, 12.5 sacks, and 7 FFs in the regular season. In 7 playoff matchups, he contributed 7 PDs, 3 INTs, and 2 sacks. He actually had 2 P6s in the 2015 postseason, as well.

No. 2: Steve Smith, WR—120 AV (2001-2013)

A third-round pick, he more than justified his draft position: 5 Pro Bowls (2001, 2005-2006, 2008, 2011), a receiving Triple Crown (2005), and 5 seasons of double-digit AV as well. That Triple Crown came one year after he missed 15 games with an injury, so he was voted Comeback Player of the Year in 2005. In 9 postseason contests, he put up 856 receiving yards and 8 TDs—including this famous overtime reception.

No. 1: Cam Newton, QB—128 AV (2011-2019, 2021)

After a controversial college career, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and he did turn the franchise fortunes around for a bit—before crashing hard in the Super Bowl 50 loss. He was voted Offensive ROTY (2011) and the NFL MVP (2015), while making 3 Pro Bowls (2011, 2013, 2015). But his record as a starter before (48-32-1) that Super Bowl and after (23-30) show the shell shock. Maybe it was karma, however.