The NFL's Top 50 Draft Classes of the Decade: No. 12 Carolina Panthers, 2001

Team Achievements: 72-72, 2003 Super Bowl appearance, 3 playoff berths.

The Panthers' 2001 Selections: Dan Morgan, LB, Miami (No. 11)
Kris Jenkins, DT, Maryland (No. 44)
Steve Smith, WR, Utah (No. 74)
Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State (No. 106)
Jarrod Cooper, S, Kansas State (No. 143)
Dee Brown, RB, Syracuse (No. 175)
Louis Williams, C, Lousiana State (No. 211)
Mike Roberg, TE, Idaho (No. 227)

Class Accolades: Dan Morgan - Pro Bowl in 2004, four-year Panthers' starter.
Kris Jenkins - Two-time All-Pro, 2 Pro Bowls in 7 seasons with Panthers, 20.5 sacks as 5-year Panthers' starter.
Steve Smith - 2-time All-Pro, 4 Pro Bowls, 574 career receptions, 8,330 yards, 58 total touchdowns, No. 1 in receptions, yards, and touchdowns in 2005, No. 1 in return yards in 2001.
Chris Weinke - 2-17 as Panthers' starter, 14 passing touchdowns and 26 interceptions.

Overall Draft Analysis - The Panthers' 2001 draft successfully contributed three Pro Bowl players and subsequent Super Bowl XXXVIII starters. After recording one win in 2001, the trio remarkably guided the Panthers' resurgence to reach the Super Bowl in 2003. After one double-digit win season in franchise history, Carolina collected three such seasons during the past decade. Jenkins and Smith certainly rank amongst the decade's most dominant performers, at their respective positions. The All-Pro second-round pick, Jenkins, excelled as Carolina's premier run stopper, although injuries frustratingly derailed the defensive tackle's '04 and '05 campaigns. Morgan additionally impacted the Panthers' vaunted defense, while starting 59 games in seven seasons with the team. Consequently, injuries similarly sabotaged Morgan's career in 2006 and 2007. The Panthers' remaining defensive draft pick from '01, Cooper, respectably contributed as a Special Teams' contributor and backup safety, during three and a half seasons in Carolina.

Surprisingly, Smith explosively became the team's offensive face of the franchise, recording 1,000+ yards in five out of six seasons, from 2003 to 2008. Smith serves as the rare undersized, superstar receiver, capable of routinely defeating double teams and delivering a pervasive deep threat to the Panthers' run-oriented offense. Smith also excelled as a punt and kick returner, from the outset of an All-Pro career. Smith ranks No. 4 in receiving yards and No. 5 in receiving touchdowns amongst active receivers, drafted during the past decade. Unfortunately, the Panthers' remaining offensive selections garnered minimal impact. Weinke served as an utter disaster at starting quarterback, compiling a woeful 2-17 career record with Carolina. Brown and Williams each spent a single season with the Panthers, while Roberg failed to play a down for Carolina. Regardless, the team's stellar trio provided long-term stability, production, and value to the franchise, allowing the team to achieve unprecedented success and, ultimately, reach the Super Bowl in 2003.

The Panthers' "Perfect Draft" in Retrospect
(Keeping trades, only same positions are eligible)
No. 11 - LB Antonio Pierece (Undrafted), No. 44 - DT Kris Jenkins, No. 74 - WR Steve Smith, No. 106 - QB Sage Rosenfels, No. 143 - S Marlon McCree, No. 175 - RB Dominic Rhodes (Undrafted), No. 211 - C Dennis Norman, No. 227 - TE Mike Roberg.

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