Carolina Panthers all-time Mount Rushmore

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball after a catch in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Bank of America Stadium on January 12, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 3: Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers runs after a fumble recovery against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers Mount Rushmore: DE Julius Peppers

He was quite the athlete and his talent enabled him to prevail for 17 NFL seasons and with three different franchises. That included two different stints with the Carolina Panthers, who made him the second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. University of North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers stood out from the get go, finishing with 12 sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception on the way to winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

He would spend the first eight years of his career in Charlotte, move onto Chicago to play for the Bears for four seasons, migrate to Green Bay for three years and then return to Carolina in 2017.

Peppers’ 10-year resume with the Panthers reads 97 quarterback traps, six interceptions (2 returned for scores), 10 fumble recoveries (1 taken back for a touchdown), 34 forced fumbles and 50 passes defensed. Five of his nine Pro Bowl invitations came with Carolina and he was also named All-Pro twice with the franchise.

The career numbers are simply amazing and include 159.5 sacks and six touchdowns scored off of 32 takeaways. It’s hard to imagine he won’t be a first ballot Hall of Famer when his time comes in a few years.

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