The Carolina Panthers may be one of the NFL's youngest franchises, but they've still rostered some very good wideouts during their relatively short time in the league.
Here are the five best wide receivers in franchise history.
5. Kelvin Benjamin
Now out of the league, Benjamin became a meme because of his large frame for the position (listed at 6-5 245 pounds), and while a lack of work ethic may have contributed to his eventual downfall, he had two strong seasons for the Panthers.
The 28th overall pick in 2014, Benjamin caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. He was primed for a huge 2015 season, but tore his ACL in training camp and missed the year. He came back in 2016 with 63 grabs for 941 yards and seven scores.
He was traded to the Buffalo Bills early in the 2017 season, and was released in 2018 after an extended stretch of poor play. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for the remainder of the year, but caught only two passes and did not see the field during the playoffs.
As a Panther, Benjamin totaled 168 catches for 2,424 yards and 18 touchdowns. He will go down as a bust, but was still productive for Carolina.
4. Devin Funchess
Another big receiver (6-4 225 pounds), Funchess was a second-rounder out of Michigan in 2015, and while he's never been a great player, he was a solid target for the Panthers.
His best season came in 2017 when he hauled in 63 passes for 840 yards and eight TDs. Over his four seasons in Carolina, Funchess finished with 161 grabs for 2,223 yards and 21 scores. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, but a broken collarbone in Week 1 ended his season, and he is now with the Green Bay Packers.
His numbers may not have been as good as Benjamin's, but Funchess spent more time with the team, and didn't have the effort and attitude questions that Benjamin did.
3. Mark Carrier
Carrier was selected in the third round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and played six solid seasons for the team, with his best performance coming in 1989, when he made the Pro Bowl after catching 86 passes for 1,422 yards and nine touchdowns.
He spent two years with the Cleveland Browns before being selected by the Panthers in the 1995 expansion draft. In four seasons with Carolina, he caught 176 passes for 2,547 yards and 13 TDs. He was a favorite target of quarterback Kerry Collins and formed a solid duo with the next player on this list.
Carrier has been part of the Panthers front office for a while now, and is currently the Executive Director of Football Staff.
2. Muhsin Muhammad
A second-round pick in 1996, Muhammad didn't break out until his third year in the league, when he caught 68 passes for 941 yards and six scores. His best season came in 2004 when he put up 93 catches for 1,405 yards and 16 scores on his way to an All-Pro selection.
He holds the record for the longest touchdown catch in Super Bowl history, an 85-yarder against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
He was released after the 2004 campaign and signed a six-year deal with the Chicago Bears, for whom he had three decent seasons before being cut. He returned to Carolina in 2008 and played two more years before retiring.
As a Panther, Muhammad caught 696 passes for 9,255 yards and 50 touchdowns.
1. Steve Smith
Perhaps the ultimate Panther, Smith was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro as a third-round rookie in 2001 because of his return ability. In 2002, he showed he was just as good as a receiver, turning his 54 catches into 872 and three scores. He broke his leg in Week 1 of the 2004 campaign, but returned in 2005 to make the All-Pro team as a WR.
He spent a total of 13 seasons in Carolina, catching 836 passes for 12,197 yards and 81 touchdowns while returning six kicks and punts for scores. Things didn't end well in 2014, and Smith was released, joining the Baltimore Ravens for three seasons before retiring after the 2016 season.
Still, Smith is a Carolina legend, known for his toughness and unrivaled trash talk. It may take a few years, but the Hall of Fame should be in Smith's future.
And even though there were hard feelings at the end, he will always be remembered as a Panther.
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