One of the best early signings in franchise history was Eric Davis, who was fresh off a Super Bowl championship and First-Team All-Pro season in San Francisco. He became one of the immediate defensive leaders for the second-year expansion franchise. Anchoring the secondary, Davis provided the perimeter lockdown ability that fueled Carolina's historic run to the NFC Championship Game in just their second year of existence.

Davis relied on elite route recognition, loose hip mechanics, and dynamic ball skills. Operating primarily as a boundary press and off-man cornerback, his primary strength on film was anticipating breaks; he routinely jumped intermediate routes and used smooth transition speed to close on the football, turning defensive stops into game-changing turnovers.

Davis made a remarkable impact in his first season in 1996, earning his second Pro Bowl nod after leading the defense with five interceptions and 13 pass defenses. His boundary play contributed to Dom Capers' defense finishing as the NFL's second-best in scoring, helping Carolina achieve a 12–4 record, secure the NFC West title, and reach the NFC Championship Game within just their second season.

Remarkably, Davis displayed clockwork consistency over his five-year run in Charlotte (1996–2000), recording exactly five interceptions in every single season as a Panther.

After the 2000 season, Davis played for Denver, Detroit, then ended his career. With the Panthers, he started 78 of 79 regular games and both playoffs, with 25 interceptions, 226 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four recoveries, and two defensive TDs.