The NFL's Top 50 Draft Classes of the Decade: No. 34 Carolina Panthers, 2002

Team Achievements: 71-57, 2003 Super Bowl appearance, 3 playoff berths.
Panthers' 2002 Selections: Julius Peppers, DE, UNC (No. 2)
Deshaun Foster, RB, UCLA (No. 34)
Will Witherspoon, LB, Georgia (No. 73)
Dante Wesley, CB, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (No. 100)
Randy Fasani, QB, Stanford (No. 137)
Kyle Johnson, FB, Syracuse (No. 145)
Keith Heinrich, TE, Sam Houston State (No. 174)
Pete Campion, G, North Dakota State (No. 213)
Brad Franklin, CB, Louisiana-Lafayette (No. 258)

Class Accolades: Julius Peppers - 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2-time All-Pro, 5 Pro Bowls, 81 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles, 10+ sacks in six different seasons.
Deshaun Foster - 14 total touchdowns, 4,332 yards from scrimmage during five seasons in Carolina, never surpassed 900 rushing yards in a season.
Will Witherspoon - 8 sacks, 7 interceptions, 354 tackles as 3-year Panthers' starter.
Dante Wesley - 87 games played with Panthers.

Overall Draft Analysis: The Panthers' 2002 draft class impressively features not only Peppers, the team's face of the franchise for the past decade, but also a supporting cast of solid contributors. Peppers ranks behind only John Abraham and Dwight Freeney (the next defensive end selected in 2002) in sacks amongst active defenders, selected during the decade. The former two-sport star at North Carolina, arguably emerged as the 2000s' most complete defensive end. After a one-win season in 2001, Peppers guided the team to its most successful period in franchise history, achieving three playoff berths and a Super Bowl appearance, during a six-season span. Peppers and Witherspoon each assumed prominent roles in the Panthers' dominant defense, as the unit miraculously ranked No. 2 in total defense in 2002 and No. 3 in 2005, after placing dead last in 2001. Wesley also contributed to a lesser extent, during a 4-year career in Carolina.

Although Foster never experienced the success the Panthers' front office anticipated, the former Bruin back led Carolina in rushing for three consecutive seasons. Fasani started merely one game, during a one-year stint with the Panthers, while, Heinrich remains the '02 class's only other player to see NFL action with the team. Regardless, Peppers and Witherspoon packed a potent punch for one of the decade's most successful defenses, while Wesley and Foster performed serviceably, warranting inclusion in the league's top 35 draft classes of the decade.

The Panthers' "Perfect Draft" in Retrospect
(Only players of same position are eligible)
No. 2 - DE Julius Peppers, No. 34 - RB Brian Westbrook, No. 73 - LB James Harrison (Undrafted), No. 100 - CB DeMarucs Faggins, No. 137 - QB Shaun Hill (Undrafted), No. 145 - FB Rock Cartwright, No. 174 - TE Jeb Putzier, No. 213 - G Kyle Kosier, No. 258 - CB Kelly Herndon (Undrafted).

References: All statistics and draft information as reflected on NFL.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.