Carolina Panthers: 5 best draft picks of all-time

4. Charles Johnson, Defensive End (Round 3, Pick 83, 2007)

Though Charles Johnson’s effectiveness on the edge of the Panthers defensive line has certainly deteriorated in recent years (especially this past season), there’s no denying how fantastic he’s been since they took him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Johnson has spent his entire NFL career with the Panthers and has obviously been hugely productive as a defensive force. Though it’s a shame that he and Julius Peppers (we might hear from him later) never got to team up while they were in their primes, Johnson still put in the work on his own accord. From 2010-14, Johnson averaged an absolutely ridiculous 11 sacks per game, including a monstrous 2012 season when the big man garnered 12.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a ridiculous seven forced fumbles.

Though finding a player of Johnson’s caliber in the third round is great, it’s even more incredible when you consider some of the context of the 2007 draft. After all, Johnson wasn’t even the first defensive end out of Georgia to come off the board in the draft. So for him to have the career he has with the Panthers, Carolina certainly hit a home run with that pick.

Next: No. 3 Julius Peppers