While the Carolina Panthers enter the 2025 season with a promising young core, the franchise’s history is already rich with elite talent worth watching for fans in the home of North Carolina sports betting. Over the past 25 years, Carolina has developed some of the NFL’s most dominant players including Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, and Julius Peppers, proving that the organization has long been a breeding ground for greatness.
BetCarolina.com constructed full offensive, defensive, and special team units for one of the “newest” franchises in the league, relatively speaking. We used Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value metric as the benchmark to determine the best in their franchise, assembling an all-time roster to go along with our Carolina Panthers betting guide.
Position | Player | Years With Team | Approximate Value During Years |
QB | Cam Newton | 2011-2021 | 128 |
RB | DeAngelo Williams | 2006-2014 | 61 |
WR | Steve Smith Sr. | 2001-2013 | 120 |
WR | Muhsin Muhammad | 2000-04, 2008-09 | 60 |
TE | Greg Olsen | 2011-2019 | 58 |
OT | Jordan Gross | 2003-2013 | 86 |
G | Travelle Wharton | 2004-2013 | 53 |
C | Ryan Kalil | 2007-2018 | 86 |
G | Trai Turner | 2014-2019 | 46 |
OT | Taylor Moton | 2017-present | 50 |
Fans in the Carolinas have reason to be hopeful. Last season’s late surge revitalized the franchise’s belief in quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick from two years ago. Now, the Panthers aim to extend that momentum into the upcoming campaign – a development that could drive excitement across the landscape in the state where BetCarolina.com offers North Carolina sports betting promos.
In a relatively weak NFC South Division, the Panthers will look to turn promise into wins, attracting plenty of action from bettors on North Carolina sportsbooks in the process.
As for the best Panthers team of the past 25 years, Can Newton and Steve Smith Sr. are the headliners. When Carolina selected Newton No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, they knew they were getting rare talent. But even they couldn’t have predicted just how transformative he would become. Newton evolved the quarterback position, becoming a beloved figure in Charlotte and among the rest in the league. At the time, Carolina Panthers playoff chances were always strong, with four postseason berths in a five-year span from 2013 to 2017.
Newton’s resume includes a 2015 MVP and an NFC championship that season. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in QB rushing touchdowns, third in career QB rushing yards, and he holds nearly every major Panthers passing record.
Smith Sr. was the franchise’s most dominant pass-catcher. The undersized receiver played in Carolina for 13 seasons, becoming the franchise leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Smith Sr. also earned a 2005 First-Team All-Pro and was a five-time Pro-Bowl selection.
Offensive tackle Taylor Moton (above) is the only active Panthers player on our list, with a career AV of 50 since he arrived in 2017.
Position | Player | Years With Team | Approximate Value During Years |
DE | Julius Peppers | 2002-2018 | 106 |
DT | Kris Jenkins | 2001-2007 | 60 |
DE | Mike Rucker | 2000-2007 | 62 |
LB | Luke Kuechly | 2012-2019 | 107 |
LB | Thomas Davis | 2005-2018 | 97 |
LB | Jon Beason | 2007-2013 | 52 |
LB | Shaq Thompson | 2015-2024 | 50 |
CB | Chris Gamble | 2004-2012 | 52 |
S | Mike Minter | 2000-2006 | 49 |
S | Jeremy Chinn | 2020-2023 | 34 |
CB | Ken Lucas | 2005-2008 | 29 |
Carolina’s defense is always a crucial factor for people doing NFL betting in North Carolina, deciding whether to back the Panthers or bet against them.
There are a couple of standouts since 2000 on this unit. In just eight seasons, Luke Kuechly crafted a resume most players spend 15 years chasing. When the linebacker shocked almost everyone by retiring at age 28 in 2020, the NFL lost one of its most complete defensive players – but not before Kuechly secured his place among the all-time greats.
He is the youngest linebacker to win the Defensive Player of the Year award (23), a five-time first-team All-Pro, and part of the 2010s All-Decade Team. Hall of Fame enshrinement in Canton will await one of the best linebackers ever.
Thomas Davis anchored the Panthers defense for 14 seasons. Surprisingly, Davis’ career peaked in his 30s, as he earned all three Pro-Bowl nods after age 32. A fan favorite, Davis was also honored with the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2014.
To see if any standouts await in this months draft, check out our Carolina Panthers mock draft 2025 for analysis.
Position | Player | Years With Team | Approximate Value During Years |
K | John Kasay | 2000-2010 | 34 |
P | Jason Baker | 2005-2011 | 16 |
The all-quarter century team’s kicker, John Kasay, spent 15 of his 20 NFL seasons with the Panthers but only his stats from 2000 to 2011 are accounted for here.
While today's Carolina Panthers squad still has work to do before joining the franchise's all-time greats, optimism might be returning to the Queen City and at NC sportsbook apps.
FanDuel Sportsbook North Carolina lists the Panthers at +440 to win the NFC South in the upcoming season, as of April 9, following the Atlanta Falcons (+240) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+120) and ahead of the New Orleans Saints (+500). The Panthers have longer odds (+11000) to win Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
Bet365 NC Sportsbook provides +8000 odds for Bryce Young to win MVP and +12500 to win Offensive Player of the Year, suggesting a third-year leap.
For the latest and exclusive sportsbook offers ahead of the NFL season, make sure to keep tabs with BetCarolina.com.
USA Today photo by Bob Donnan
Author
Felix Veletanga is an experienced reporter who has covered local news, politics, and sports in Northern New Jersey, and now lends his expertise to the North Carolina sports betting market. He previously covered the Saint Peter’s men’s basketball team’s 2022 NCAA Cinderella run for HudPost. Felix specializes in combat fighting and soccer betting analysis with a focus on the Premier League.
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