The Carolina Panthers became the 13th team in NFL history to trade for the No. 1 overall pick ahead of the NFL Draft on Friday. And they gave up a significant portion of their future to do so.
While it was clear for months that the Bears were shopping the No. 1 pick, few teams have ever parted ways with as many future top picks as the Panthers to acquire the top selection. Plenty of teams have swung and missed on a No. 1 pick, but the added pressure of trading for the first player in the draft makes the process that much more difficult.
Here’s how the previous 12 teams fared — and the scale the Panthers will eventually be graded on.
13. Carolina acquires No. 1 pick in 2023 from Chicago
Bears received: WR DJ Moore, 2023 first-round pick (No. 9), 2023 second-round pick (No. 61), 2024 first-round pick and 2025 second-round pick.
Panthers received: 2023 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: To be determined, but….this is a massive haul for Chicago. The Panthers have clearly staked their future on getting this pick right so let’s hope they know what they’re doing. That said, it won’t take much to move up these rankings given what else is on the list.
12. Cincinnati acquires No. 1 pick in 1995 from Carolina
Player picked at No. 1: RB Ki-Jana Carter
Panthers received: 1995 first-round pick (No. 5, QB Kerry Collins) and 1995 second-round pick (No. 36, DE Shawn King)
Bengals received: 1995 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: An All-American at Penn State, Carter finished his NFL career with 1,144 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on 319 attempts and was out of the league by 2004. The Bengals passed on three future Hall of Famers in Tony Boselli, Warren Sapp, Ty Law and Derrick Brooks along with Steve McNair.
11. Indianapolis Colts acquire No. 1 pick in 1990 from Atlanta
Player picked at No. 1: QB Jeff George
Falcons received: OT Chris Hinton, WR Andre Rison, 1990 fifth-round pick (No. 121, TE Reggie Redding) and 1991 first round pick (No. 13, WR Mike Pritchard)
Colts received: 1990 No. 1 overall pick and a fourth-round pick (No. 83, WR Stacey Simmons)
Verdict: You can’t blame the Colts for taking a hometown kid in George, but he lasted just four years in Indianapolis with no playoff appearances before embarking on a journeyman career. The Colts took George over Junior Seau and Emmitt Smith.
10. Los Angeles Rams acquire No. 1 pick in 2016 from Tennessee Titans
Player picked at No. 1: QB Jared Goff
Titans received: 2016 first-round pick (No. 15; subsequently traded, WR Corey Coleman), 2016 second-round pick (No. 43, DT Austin Johnson), 2016 second-round pick (No. 45, RB Derrick Henry), 2016 third-round pick (No. 76; subsequently traded, OT Shon Coleman), 2017 first-round pick (No. 5, WR Corey Davis) and 2017 third-round pick (No. 100, TE Jonnu Smith)
Rams received: 2016 No. 1 overall pick, 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113; subsequently traded, LB Nick Kwiatkoski) and 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 177, TE Temarrick Hemingway)
Verdict: Goff took the Rams to a Super Bowl but couldn’t deliver a win. He was later traded to the Lions for Matthew Stafford, who did get the Rams a ring. Meanwhile, the Titans picked up a once-in-a-generation tailback in Derrick Henry.
9. Atlanta acquires No. 1 pick in 1975 from Baltimore Colts
Player picked at No. 1: QB Steve Bartkowski
Colts received: 1975 first-round pick (No. 3 G Ken Huff) and OL George Kunz
Falcons received: 1975 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: Bartkowski won Rookie of the Year, led the league in passing touchdowns in 1980 and was named to two Pro Bowls. But three Hall of Famers went right behind him with picks No. 2 Randy White, No. 4 Walter Payton and No. 6 Robert Brazile
8. New England acquires No. 1 pick in 1984 from Tampa Bay via Cincinnati
Player picked at No. 1: WR Irving Fryar
Bengals received: 1984 first-round pick (No. 16, DE Pete Koch), 1984 first-round pick (No. 28; OL Brian Blados), a 10th-round pick (No. 265, RB Brent Ziegler) and a 1985 fifth-round pick (No. 129, DB Lee Davis)
Buccaneers received: QB Jack Thompson
Patriots received: 1984 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: Not awful for New England. Fryar made five Pro Bowls and was named second-team All-Pro twice across stints with the Patriots, Dolphins, Eagles and Washington.
7. Dallas acquires No. 1 pick in 1974 from Houston
Player picked at No. 1: DE Ed Jones
Oilers received: DE Tody Smith and WR Billy Parks
Cowboys received: 1974 No. 1 overall pick and 1974 third-round pick (No. 53 QB Danny White)
Verdict: Despite pausing his NFL career to pursue boxing, Jones helped Dallas win Super Bowl XII, was named to three Pro Bowls and made first-team All-Pro in 1982
6. Baltimore Colts acquire No. 1 pick in 1967 from New Orleans
Player picked at No. 1: DT Bubba Smith
Saints received: QB Gary Cuozzo
Colts received: 1967 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: Smith became an All-Pro as the Colts won a championship in 1968 and emerged victorious in Super Bowl V two years later. Cuozzo lasted one year in New Orleans before getting traded to Minnesota.
5. Dallas acquires No. 1 pick in 1991 from New England
Player picked at No. 1: DT Russell Maryland
Patriots received: 1991 first-round pick (No. 11 T Pat Harlow), 1991 second-round pick (No. 41 DB Jerome Henderson) and three players (CB Ron Francis, LB David Howard, LB Eugene Lockhart Jr.)
Dallas received: 1991 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: Hard to argue with Dallas’ move when the result helped win three Super Bowls. Maryland made the Pro Bowl in 1993. The Patriots had significantly better years ahead anyways.
4. Atlanta acquires No. 1 pick in 2001 from San Diego
Player picked at No. 1: QB Michael Vick
Chargers received: WR Tim Dwight, 2001 first-round pick (No. 5 RB LaDainian Tomlinson), 2021 third-round pick (No. 67 DB Tay Cody) and a 2002 second-round pick (No. 48 WR Reche Caldwell).
Falcons received: 2001 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: In retrospect this turned out pretty fair, especially considering the Chargers added Drew Brees in the second round. But there are very few quarterbacks who were able to do what Vick could on the field in his prime.
3. Minnesota Vikings acquire No. 1 pick in 1968 from New York Giants
Player picked at No. 1: T Ron Yary
Giants received: QB Fran Tarkenton
Vikings received: 1968 No. 1 overall pick, 1967 first-round pick (No. 2. Clint Jones), 1967 second-round pick (No. 28. Bob Grim) and 1969 second-round pick (No. 39. OL Ed White)
Verdict: The Vikings won a championship in 1969 — the last NFL title game before merging with the AFL — and ended up trading back for Tarkenton in 1972. The Hall of Fame QB played until 1978, leading Minnesota to three NFC titles. Yary, meanwhile, finished up a Hall of Fame career of his own in 1982.
2. St. Louis acquires No. 1 pick in 1997 from New York Jets
Player picked at No. 1: OT Orlando Pace
Jets received: 1997 first-round pick (No. 6; subsequently traded, OT Walter Jones), 1997 third-round pick (No. 67; subsequently traded, OL Dan Neil), 1997 fourth-round pick (No. 102, DE Terry Day) and 1997 seventh-round pick (No. 207; subsequently traded, QB Koy Detmer)
Rams received: 1997 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: Pace became a three-time first-team All-Pro, appeared in seven Pro Bowls and earned a ring in Super Bowl XXXIV in arguably the most iconic title game of all time. Pace is in the Hall of Fame. The Jets have won seven playoff games total since he was drafted.
1. Houston Oilers acquire No. 1 pick in 1978 from Tampa Bay
Player picked at No. 1: RB Earl Campbell
Tampa Bay received: TE Jimmie Giles, 1978 first-round pick (No. 17, QB Doug Williams), 1978 second-round pick (No. 44, G Brett Moritz), 1979 third-round pick (No. 78, DE Reggie Lewis) and 1979 fifth-round pick (No. 133, QB Chuck Fusina)
Oilers received: 1978 No. 1 overall pick
Verdict: One of the greatest players, let alone running backs, in NFL history. Enough said.
