The Carolina Panthers' franchise began in 1995. Due to that, they really don't have the longest history. They have still had major moments in the franchise though. Moments that will be looked upon for a very long time.

Quite a few of those moments surround the NFL Draft. And wouldn't you know, the 2020 NFL Draft was just last weekend, with Carolina drafting a historic class.

Due to that, it seems like an appropriate time to go back and analyze some former draft picks. Who were the biggest steals and busts in the history of each team?

Let's take a look back at Carolina and try to determine who the five greatest steals in the history of the Panthers' franchise are.

5. Ryan Kalil

This spot was a toss-up. The Panthers selected Ryan Kalil in the second round (59th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, they selected Trai Turner in the third round (92nd overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft.

So Turner has the upper hand based on where he was selected. However, Kalil beats him in most other categories. Both are incredible linemen.

Turner spent six years with the team though, and Kalil spent 12. That's where the big difference is.

In Kalil's 12 seasons with the Panthers, he played in 148 games, starting 145 of them. The center was one of the very best at his position in that time, making it to five Pro Bowls and getting two First-Team All-Pro honors.

After the 2018 season, Kalil announced his retirement. That was absurdly short-lived though. Before the start of the 2019 season, he came out of retirement and signed with the New York Jets. There he played in just seven games due to injury though.

Kalil is on of the best centers of all-time and arguably the best offensive lineman in Panthers' franchise history. Even in the second round, that's a pretty obvious steal.

4. Muhsin Muhammad

Here's another second-round selection. The Panthers used the 43rd overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft.

Muhammad turned into the best wide receiver in Carolina history, at least for a little bit.

The wide receiver spent 11 years in Carolina. In that time, he racked up an incredible 696 receptions for 9,255 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Those 11 seasons with the Panthers saw Muhammad made just two Pro Bowls and get one First-Team All-Pro selection. Clearly he was an underrated talent in his time.

Muhammad also spent three years with the Chicago Bears. He added another 164 receptions for 2,183 yards and 12 touchdowns.

That means that his career ended with 860 receptions for 11,438 yards and 62 touchdowns.

Muhammad had some of the best seasons in franchise history. Getting him in the second round is still far from deep in the draft, it was absolutely a steal though.

3. Josh Norman

This one might be a little controversial for a few reasons. First off, I basically admitted Turner wasn't on this list because he “only spent six seasons with the Panthers as opposed to Kalil's 12.

So why does Josh Norman and his four seasons with the team make the list?

Well for starters Norman was a much later pick, being selected in the fifth round (143rd overall) in 2012.

Then there's the fact that Norman was the best cornerback in the NFL for a period. And he was an immediate boost to the team.

In his rookie season, Norman posted what is still a career-best 73 tackles. He also had one interception and seven pass deflections.

2013 saw inconsistencies and Norman only appearing in seven games. 2014 was a different story though.

That season saw the cornerback turn into a legitimate star. He racked up two interceptions this time around, and 11 pass deflections. Norman also had a forced fumble and fumble recovery for his troubles. This was the beginning of him becoming known as one of the best lockdown corners in the NFL.

The next year was his best to date. Norman posted big numbers all across the board. That included career-highs in forced fumbles (3), tackles for loss (3), interceptions (4) and defensive touchdowns (2). He also recorded 18 pass deflections. This led to Norman making his only Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro to date.

The corner left in free agency and spent four years with the Washington Redskins then. This is where the other hurdle comes in. His career hasn't been as good since this. So people might not consider him as big of a steal. A few years down the road, Norman might be remembered more fondly for his time in Carolina though.

And it hasn't been all bad either, he was still very good for the beginning of his Washington run. That included a career-high 19 pass deflections in 2016 and eight more forced fumbles in the four seasons.

Norman is now with the Buffalo Bills, and hoping to recapture some of that Carolina magic. Still, even those four years were a major steal for the Panthers using a fifth-round pick.

2. Charles Johnson

In 2007, Carolina used a third-round pick (83rd overall) on defensive end Charles Johnson. He would go on to spend all 11 years of his NFL career with the Panthers.

In those 11 years, Johnson racked up some massive numbers. He recorded 323 tackles (75 for loss) and 67.5 sacks (second in franchise history behind just Julius Peppers who has 97). Johnson also ended his career with 17 forced fumbles and 25 pass deflections.

Somehow, through his entire career, the defensive lineman was underrated. At no point did Johnson even make a Pro-Bowl. That's despite a stretch between 2010 and 2013 that saw him record 11.5 sacks, nine sacks, 12.5 sacks (also seven forced fumbles that year) and 11 sacks.

Although Johnson spent his entire career as under the radar, he nearly tops this list.

1. Steve Smith Sr.

Of course though, it had to be Steve Smith Sr. at the top. Smith Sr. was taken in the third round (74th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.

He would go on to surpass Muhammad and become the greatest wide receiver in franchise history.

Smith Sr. spent 13 of his 16 seasons in the NFL with the Panthers. In his time in Carolina, he recorded 836 receptions for 12,197 yards and 67 touchdowns.

Then in his final three seasons of his career (with the Baltimore Ravens), Smith Sr. added another 195 receptions for 2,534 yards and 14 touchdowns.

That adds up to 1,031 receptions for 14,731 yards and 81 touchdowns. Those are just insane numbers.

Smith Sr.'s career ended with him making five Pro Bowls and two First-Team All-Pro selections. There's a reason he claims he has a “PHD in route running” and it's really hard to argue with the assessment.

Smith Sr. is one of the greatest wide receivers of all-time and absolutely will be a Hall of Fame inductee at some point in the future. For now though, he's simply the greatest steal in Carolina Panthers' franchise history.