Every NFL team’s best draft pick of all-time

Carolina Panthers – Steve Smith (No. 74 pick, 2001)

Cam Newton is probably going to be the best player in the history of the Carolina Panthers organization by the time he finishes his career in Charlotte. At this moment, though, Newton does not represent the best draft pick in the team’s history (thanks in part to the fact that he was the top overall pick), and that honor goes to a player that Newton heavily relied on at the outset of his promising tenure.

Steve Smith may not be in the elite class of NFL wide receivers from an all-time perspective, but he certainly is on any list of the most entertaining players in league history. The 5-f00t-9, 185-pound menace was drafted as a third-round investment out of Utah in 2001, and Smith has returned an incredible value on the strength of five Pro Bowl selections, seven 1,000-yard seasons (eight total) and numerous instances where he put the team on his diminutive back.

Smith is often described as one of the best “pound for pound” players in the league because of his stature, but he played incredibly tough and Carolina relied on his greatness on the outside for many years. Furthermore, Smith also contributed a lot as a return man during his early years, and given the value that comes with a third round “home run” selection, this wasn’t a difficult choice.

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