Kawann Short played eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers after being drafted in the 2^nd Round from Purdue in 2013.  The former Boilermaker would become one of Carolina's top pass rushers, and in 2015 the starting Right Defensive Tackle would go to his first Pro Bowl where he reached the Quarterback and took him down 11 times.  Short, who also was chosen for a Second Team All-Pro would go to his second Pro Bowl in 2018.  He was released in 2021 after two injury-plagued seasons and would have 32.5 Sacks for the team.

As of this writing, Mike Rucker is only one of three Carolina Panthers to record over 50 Quarterback Sacks for the team, which he accomplished over an eight-year career, which was all with the Panthers.  The Defensive End was a 1999 2^nd Round Pick from the University of Nebraska and would become a starter in his third season.  Rucker would have two straight two-digit Sack seasons (2002 & 2003), with the latter seeing named to the Pro Bowl.  He would also be named the NFL Alumni Defensive LIneman of the Year that season.

Kevin Greene was only a Carolina Panther for three seasons, but one could argue it was the accomplishments that he accumulated there that would put him over the tipping point to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Sam Mills signed with the expansion Carolina Panthers after spending his first nine seasons with the New Orleans Saints.  Mills was one of the best defensive players ever for the Saints, but his reputation has been appropriated by Carolina, where he was instantly their defensive leader.  He played for the Panthers for three seasons where he started all 48 of his games, making him the only Panther to start every game in the first three seasons of Carolina’s existence.  Mills would have a career renaissance in 1996 where he would go to his 5^th Pro Bowl and would be chosen for his first and only First Team All-Pro.  He would have seven Interceptions and 10 Quarterback Sacks as a Panther.