The Carolina Panthers have selected four players at No. 8 overall in the NFL Draft. The careers of these four players share themes of Pro Bowls and derailing injuries.
The Carolina Panthers hold the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Carolina has picked in the number eight spot four times in franchise history. Following the mantra that “the best predictor of future performance is past performance”, let’s examine how the careers of these four players panned out and what it could mean for the 2025 draft.
If the future in Carolina plays out like the past, get ready for both Pro Bowls and frustrating injuries from whomever the Panthers select at No. 8 this year:
1996 – Tim Biakabutuka, running back
NFL longevity: Six seasons, 50 games, 35 starts
Stats: 2,530 rush yards (4.1 YPC), 789 receiving yards, 17 total touchdowns
The Panthers once promising running back has one of those “what if?” NFL careers. The Michigan product tore his ACL just four games into his 1996 rookie season. Recovering from major injuries nearly 30 years ago was different than it is today, and this ACL tear likely impacted his athleticism going forward. Over the next several seasons he also dealt with turf toe and ankle injuries, never appearing in more than 12 games in a season over his six-year career.
His most significant injury was also his last. On the last carry of his NFL career, Biakabutuka suffered a broken foot that was so severe that at one point there was fear that his foot might need to be amputated.
Overall, he was a fine running back who still averaged 4.1 yards per carry despite his injuries, but he didn’t live up to his lofty draft status.
2003 – Jordan Gross, offensive tackle
NFL longevity: 11 seasons, 167 games, 167 starts
Stats: 1X All-Pro, 3X Pro Bowler
Jordan Gross began his career protecting Jake Delhomme’s blindside, and he finished it protecting Cam Newton. Gross was the model of consistency and excellence throughout his career. During his 11-year career he started all 16 games eight times and 15 games in two other seasons. In all he missed just nine career games.
Gross was a three-time Pro Bowler and was selected an All-Pro in 2008. His retirement in 2013 surprised and saddened many Panthers fans. At the time he was 33 years old, in good health, and coming off a Pro Bowl campaign. Cam Newton had just finished his second season in the NFL and retaining Jordan Gross could have elevated an up-and-coming Panthers team that made the Super Bowl two seasons later.
Overall, Jordan Gross gave the Panthers exactly what teams need from the No. 8 overall pick by playing for more than a decade at a critical position, and doing so at a Pro Bowl level.
2017 – Christian McCaffrey, running back
NFL longevity: Eight seasons, 95 games, 88 starts (still active)
Stats: 6,387 rush yards, 4,466 receiving yards, 81 total TDs; 3X Pro Bowler, 2X All-Pro
Ah, Christian.
Like many Panthers fans I’m still wistful when remembering the wildly entertaining days when CMC was setting records as the best dual-threat running back in NFL history. But despite McCaffrey’s individual brilliance, the Panthers as a team were headed in the wrong direction. Additionally, the Stanford legend suffered back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2020 and 2021, playing just 10 games over those two campaigns.
Ultimately the Panthers traded him to the San Francisco 49ers during the 2022 season. Once again, CMC was outstanding for his first two-and-a-half seasons with his new team, then played in just four games in 2024 due to injury.
When healthy, the impact Christian McCaffrey can make on a good team is clearly worth the No. 8 pick. The main issue, however, is the qualifier “when healthy”.
2021 – Jaycee Horn, cornerback
NFL longevity: four season, 37 games, 37 starts (still active)
Stats: 153 tackles, five interceptions, 26 passes defended, 1X Pro Bowl
Speaking of outstanding No. 8 overall picks who can’t quite stay healthy for the Panthers, it’s Jaycee Horn!
The former South Carolina Gamecock has all the potential in the world, but his NFL career got off to a choppy start due to injuries. He appeared in just three games his rookie season after fracturing three bones in his foot. In his second NFL season he started all 13 games in which he appeared and flashed the potential of a future All-Pro.
But in 2023, his third season, he was limited to just six games and the “injury prone” label started to get attached to his name. But last season Horn showed what he can do when healthy, playing in 15 games and earning his first Pro Bowl honor.
Jaycee Horn, when healthy, is what teams look for in a No. 8 overall pick. There’s a reason the Panthers just gave him a four-year, $100 million extension.
Now he just needs to stay on the field.