Carolina Panthers' Draft Disappointments: A Decade of Missed Opportunities
Drafting in the NFL is a complex process with no guarantees of success. As the 2026 NFL Draft concludes, teams will now focus on preparing for training camps. This is an opportune moment to reflect on the past decade of drafts for each team and identify picks that did not meet expectations. Starting with the 2016 draft, we will highlight the Carolina Panthers' five least successful draft picks.
Curtis Samuel, drafted in 2017, struggled initially but eventually found his footing before leaving in free agency. His departure coincided with the emergence of standout receivers like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp from the same draft class.
In 2024, the Panthers took a risk on running back Brooks despite his injury history. Unfortunately, he suffered two ACL tears in his first two seasons, hindering his progress and potential.
In 2022, the Panthers selected quarterback Corral in the third round, but he failed to make an impact due to injuries and was waived after his rookie year. Meanwhile, other quarterbacks drafted after him have already seen playing time in the NFL.
Marshall, drafted in 2021, showed promise early on but failed to deliver consistently over four seasons. His underwhelming performance contrasts with the success of other wide receivers selected in the same draft.
Reflecting on these draft picks highlights the challenges and uncertainties teams face when selecting players. Despite the best intentions, not every pick will pan out as expected, leading to missed opportunities and lessons learned for future drafts.