Best player ever to wear each jersey number for the Panthers

The best player ever to wear each jersey number for the Carolina Panthers since their inception in 1995:

1 – Cam Newton

No Panther even had worn No. 1 before Cam and no one likely will again.

2 – Jimmy Clausen

This was the jersey Newton wanted when he was drafted, but the No. 1 pick took No. 1 instead.

3 – Derek Anderson

Won his only two starts with Panthers when Newton was injured in 2014; gets the nod over Matt Moore.

4 – John Kasay

Graham Gano wore No. 4 for one day before he wisely had a change of heart.

5 – Jim Harbaugh

Active for only one game after signing midway through 2001 season. Name recognition gets him the spot over kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd.

6 – Joe Nedney

Made 26-of-28 field goals in 2000 after Kasay broke his kneecap in August.

7 – Steve Beuerlein

His QB draw at Green Bay in 1999 remains one of the more memorable plays in team history.

8 – Brad Nortman

Panthers might end up regretting not re-signing their punter of 2012-15.

9 – Graham Gano

Set a franchise record with 146 points in 2015 and has been NFL’s touchbacks leader the past three years.

10 – Todd Sauerbrun

Led NFC in gross punting three years in a row (2001-03), becoming first player since 1970 to do so.

11-Brandon LaFell

Rangy receiver won a Super Bowl with the Patriots a year after leaving Carolina.

12 – Kerry Collins

Starting QB when the Panthers advanced to the NFC Championship Game in their second season.

13 – Kelvin Benjamin

First-round pick from Florida State set the team’s rookie receiving records in 2014.

14 – Frank Reich

Veteran QB started the first three games in franchise history (all losses).

15 – Joe Adams

Obviously, this has not been a popular number over the years.

16 – Chris Weinke

At the helm for 1-15 season, but 28-year-old Heisman winner is the pick over Vinny Testaverde.

17 – Jake Delhomme

Led Carolina to its first Super Bowl and made Cajun cool in Charlotte.

18 – Drew Carter

Caught 71 passes for 977 yards and 8 TDs in parts of three seasons (2005-07).

19 – Ted Ginn Jr.

Hasn’t done much for three other teams, but Panthers have utilized his game-breaking speed. He’s the choice over Keyshawn Johnson.

20 – Chris Gamble

21 – Tshimanga Biakabutuka

Fans still wear the jersey of the bruising back from Michigan.

22 – Tim McKyer

Cornerback played only one season in Carolina near the end of a solid career.

23 – Anthony Johnson

Stepped in at RB in ’96 after an injury to Biakabutuka and became the first 1,000-yard rusher in team history.

24 – Josh Norman

His Pro Bowl season of 2015 was followed by his strange, sudden departure to Washington.

25 – Eric Davis

NFL Network analyst started for five seasons and ranks second in team history with 25 interceptions.

26 – DeShaun Foster

No. 3 on team’s rushing chart; broke five tackles during a TD run in NFC Championship Game victory at Philadelphia.

27 – Deon Grant

Safety was a second-round pick in 2000 who later won a Super Bowl with the Giants.

28 – Jonathan Stewart

Franchise’s second all-time leading rusher behind his buddy DeAngelo Williams.

29 – Cam L. Newton

The Furman safety was the Panthers’ original Cam Newton for parts of two seasons.

30 – Mike Minter

Now Campbell University’s coach, Minter is third on Panthers’ career INT list with 17.

31 – Richard Marshall

Starting corner for two seasons after playing nickel first three years.

32 – Fred Lane

Rushed for 2,000 yards in three seasons before he was shot and killed by his wife in 2000.

33 – Doug Evans

His eight INTs in 2001 are the most by a Panthers player in a single season.

34 – DeAngelo Williams

Franchise’s all-time rushing leader was cut after the 2014 season and signed with Pittsburgh.

35 – Mike Tolbert

Has an engaging personality and bowling-ball body – and a penchant for finding the end zone.

36 – Shaun Williams

Safety started 12 games and had 2 INTs in 2006 to earn the nod among a field of pedestrian candidates.

37 – Chad Cota

38 – Tyrone Poole

Cornerback was member of inaugural Panthers, and was infamous for appearing nude in Playgirl.

39 – Brett Maxie

Strong safety for inaugural Panthers is now Tampa Bay’s defensive backs coach.

40 – Pat Terrell

Free safety intercepted a Troy Aikman pass and returned it 49 yards to set up game-clinching field goal in playoff win vs. Dallas in 1996.

41 – Captain Munnerlyn

The diminutive and amiable corner had a knack for finding the end zone after his interceptions (five TDs).

42 – Colin Jones

Speedy safety has ranked in top three in special teams tackles among Panthers in three of his four seasons.

43 – Chris Harris

Strong safety was acquired in a trade from Chicago and later traded back to the Bears.

44 – J.J. Jansen

Last bad snap came in the 2010 opener against the Giants – a streak of more than 600 successful snaps.

45 – Brad Hoover

Before fans chanted “Luuuukkke,” they had a “Hoooovvv” cheer for the rugged fullback.

46 – Brent Alexander

Started 32 games at safety in 1998-99.

47 – Jeff King

Former Virginia Tech tight end was a four-year starter under John Fox.

48 – Stephen Davis

Workhorse running back from Spartanburg ranks sixth on team’s all-time rushing list.

49 – Casey Cramer

Panthers’ only player from Dartmouth makes the list by default among slim pickings at 49.

50 – James Anderson

Racked up a bunch of tackles during a couple of seasons when Thomas Davis was injured.

51 – Sam Mills

The only player in Carolina’s Ring of Honor and the man who inspired the team slogan is a no-brainer.

52 – Jon Beason

A three-time Pro Bowler, Beason was as good as anyone when he was healthy.

53 – Na’il Diggs

Started 46 games at linebacker for the Panthers in the mid-to-late 2000s

54 – Will Witherspooon

Had seven interceptions and eight sacks in his four years (55 starts) at middle linebacker here.

55 – Dan Morgan

Injuries derailed Morgan from potentially being one of the team’s all-time greats.

56 – Micheal Barrow

He played multiple linebacker positions and started in all of his 48 games in Carolina.

57 – Lamar Lathon

An original Panther who made the Pro Bowl in 1996.

58 – Thomas Davis

The first NFL player to come back from three ACL tears, Davis will have a statue in Charlotte one day.

59 – Luke Kuechly

The cornerstone of Carolina’s defense during the most successful three-year era in team history.

60 – Jeff Mitchell

A center who started in all 78 appearances in his time in Carolina.

61 – Amini Silatolu

The former second-round pick didn’t get extended after mediocre play and injuries.

62 – Jeff Byers

A role player his entire career, Byers is probably embarrassed to be on this list.

63 – Geoff Hangartner

One of the smartest players to ever be on this team, edges Jamar Nesbit here.

64 – Curtis Whitley

Starting center for Panthers’ first two seasons; died in 2008 at 39 of an apparent drug overdose.

65 – Kevin Donnalley

An offensive guard for Carolina’s 2003 Super Bowl run, Donnalley remains connected to the team.

66 – Matthew Campbell

Few players have worn this jersey, and Campbell was by far the most successful in it.

67 – Ryan Kalil

The best center in Panthers history, Kalil has five Pro Bowls to his name.

68 – Mike Wahle

Only here three years, Wahle went to the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Panthers.

69 – Jordan Gross

A consistent left tackle who started in all 167 games he played.

70 – Travelle Wharton

The guard never appeared in a regular-season game for another team during his 10 years in the league.

71 – Greg Kragen

72 – Danny Villa

Villa was a stable long snapper for his one season (1998) with the team.

73 – Michael Oher

It only took one season for The Blind Side to win this one.

74 – Mike Remmers

75 – Todd Steussie

Started all 48 games at tackle, including Super Bowl XXXVIII.

76 – Greg Hardy

His career in Charlotte ended badly, but no one who wore this jersey played better than Hardy.

77 – Kris Jenkins

Jenkins went to three of his four Pro Bowls with Carolina at defensive tackle.

78 – Blake Brockermeyer

An original Panther who had 56 starts out of 58 games.

79 – Jeff Otah

80 – Dwight Stone

Special teams ace was a well-respected leader in the Panthers’ locker room.

81 – Ricky Proehl

Proehl’s contributions to the team, on and off the field, earn him this honor.

82 – Michael Bates

The five-time Pro Bowler was a reliable return man for the early Panthers.

83 – Mark Carrier

He’s fifth all-time in receiving yards for Carolina, and he’s now the director of player development.

84 – Mark Jones

Averaged 11.4 yards per punt return and 24 yards per kick return in his one season.

85 – Wesley Walls

A fan favorite who held every meaningful tight end record until Greg Olsen came along.

86 – Kris Mangum

He played his entire 10-year career with Carolina.

87 – Muhsin Muhammad

Moose was the perfect complement to Steve Smith in the early 2000s.

88 – Greg Olsen

The best tight end in Carolina’s history, and Cam Newton’s most reliable target.

89 – Steve Smith

He could be the first player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who spent the majority of his career in Carolina.

90 – Julius Peppers

One of the best defensive ends in the NFL of the 2000s.

91 – Kevin Greene

He spent three years of his Hall of Fame career with the Panthers.

92 – Reggie White

No doubt the greatest player to wear this jersey, even though he spent the final year of his career in Charlotte.

93 – Mike Rucker

He racked up 55 1/2 sacks in his nine seasons with the Panthers.

94 – Kony Ealy

Ealy would have been the Super Bowl 50 MVP had Carolina beaten Denver.

95 – Charles Johnson

Johnson is behind only Peppers on the team’s all-time sacks list (63 1/2).

96 – Al Wallace

Got 17 of his 23 career sacks in his five seasons with the Panthers.

97 – Mario Addison

Addison, who also plays specials teams, has more sacks than any Panthers defensive end since 2014.

98 – Star Lotulelei

A former first-round pick who eats up space and lets guys like Kuechly roam.

99 – Kawann Short

Short set a franchise record at DT with 11 sacks in 2015, and he edges out Brentson Buckner.

This story was originally published September 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Best player ever to wear each jersey number for the Panthers."