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The Carolina Panthers are one of the newest franchises in NFL history having only been started in 1995. However, like every other NFL team, the Panthers are not immune to striking out when it comes to the draft.
While the team has absolutely seen its fair share of great picks over the last two-plus decades, there are also a lot of duds. Obviously, lackluster careers by these players tend to lead to them being forgotten more easily than the stars but they still are major parts in the franchise's history.
5. Vernon Butler
The most recent player on this list, Butler was drafted 30th overall by the Panthers in the 2016 draft. Following the best season in franchise history, Butler was supposed to add to an already dominant Carolina defense.
A big, 6-foot-4, 330-pound defensive tackle out of Louisiana Tech, the Panthers expected Butler to help clog up the middle for years to come.
Instead, Butler struggled to earn a major role in his first three seasons as he made zero starts and recorded just two total sacks during that time. Butler had a bit of a breakout season in 2019 but he is now with the Buffalo Bills and is the team's worst pick in the last five years.
4. Tim Biakabutuka
A native of the country of Zaire, Biakabutuka enjoyed a monster junior season at Michigan where he recorded 1,724 yards and 12 touchdowns on over six yards per carry. For that reason, Biakabutuka was seen as a top prospect and so the Panthers drafted him eighth overall in 1996.
The biggest problem for the 6-foot, 215-pound running back was staying healthy. In six NFL seasons, Biakabutuka managed to play just 50 games and played less than 10 games in three separate seasons.
Other than that, he just wasn't able to produce at the level he was expected to. By far his best season came in 1999 when he rushed for 718 yards and six touchdowns and by 27, the former star was out of the league.
3. Jason Peter
After being named a consensus All-American at Nebraska, the Panthers thought they had a major steal on their hands when they drafted Peter 14th overall in 1998.
Little did they know, Peter would struggle mightily with neck and spine injuries and would last just four seasons in the league (all with Carolina)
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In those seasons, Peter managed just 88 total tackles and 7.5 sacks.
2. Dwayne Jarrett
Jarrett seemed like a can't-miss prospect coming out of USC. As a sophomore, the big wide receiver totaled 1,274 yards and 16 touchdowns. And, with a 6-foot-4, 219-pound frame, Jarrett looked ready to dominate at the next level.
The Panthers drafted the exciting prospect in the second round (45th overall) in 2007 hoping to pair him up with star wideout Steve Smith.
However, issues on and off the field quickly showed that Jarrett didn't have what it took. The former USC star was sparingly used in his four NFL seasons, never surpassing 200 receiving yards for a season and grabbing just one touchdown in his entire career.
1. Jimmy Clausen
The year before the Panthers future Rookie of the Year and MVP Cam Newton first overall, the team looked like they had found their franchise quarterback when they drafted Jimmy Clausen with their first pick — the 45th overall selection in the second round.
Clausen was considered one of the most talented players in high school history and after throwing 28 touchdowns and just four interceptions during his junior season at Notre Dame, it seemed like Clausen had the “it factor.”
Despite draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. calling Clausen a surefire star at the next level on draft day, Carolina quickly found out that that was not the case.
In his only year as the starter, Clausen completed 52.5 percent of his passes for 1,558 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions. Clausen would be Newton's backup for a year and then found backup jobs in Chicago and Baltimore and now, hasn't played in the NFL since 2015.
