While the seven selections of the Panthers' all-defense 2020 draft class can't get on the field yet, we now know the numbers they'll be wearing once they do.
DT Derrick Brown — No. 95
Selected 7th overall, Brown will wear No. 95 after sporting No. 5 in college at Auburn. It's the first time in franchise history that a Panthers first-round pick will wear the number. The most notable No. 95 in franchise history is former defensive end Charles Johnson, who wore it from 2007-2017. The third-round pick finished his career second on the all-time franchise list with 67.5 sacks.
DE Yetur Gross-Matos — No. 97
Gross-Matos, Carolina's pick at No. 38 overall, wore No. 99 in college but will now have No. 97 in the pros. Defensive end Mario Addison wore No. 97 from 2012-2019, racking up 55.0 sacks to rank No. 4 in franchise history.
It's only the third time in franchise history that the Panthers' first two draft picks will have numbers in the 90s. Nos. 93, 95, and 97, all used in this draft class, were worn by players who rank No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 on the list of Carolina's all-time sack leaders.
S Jeremy Chinn — No. 21
Chinn wore No. 2 at Southern Illinois, and the No. 64 overall pick will add a one to that number as he transitions to the league. Cornerbacks Ken Lucas and Dante Wesley both wore No. 21 at different points of their careers in the 2000s. But No. 21 is likely still most associated with running back Tim Biakabutuka, who was the Panthers' first-round pick out of Michigan in 1996 and played for the club for six seasons.
CB Troy Pride Jr. — No. 25
Pride will sport No. 25 after wearing No. 18 and No. 5 at Notre Dame. That number is notable for being worn by two men named "Eric." First, Pro Bowl cornerback Eric Davis, who coincidentally picked off 25 passes from 1996-2000. And safety Eric Reid wore No. 25 for the last two seasons.
S Kenny Robinson — No. 27
Robinson wore No. 2 in college at West Virginia and then No. 23 with the XFL's St. Louis Battlehawks. Now the 152nd overall selection will don No. 27, which was most recently worn by cornerback Kevon Seymour. Safety Deon Grant started 48 games for the club from 2001-2003 with No. 27, making 11 interceptions in that time.
DT Bravvion Roy — No. 93
The 184th overall selection in the sixth round, Roy will be No. 93 after stints with No. 95 and No. 99 at Baylor. While defensive tackle Kyle Love most recently wore 93, the number is most associated with defensive end Mike Rucker. A second-round pick in 1999, Rucker started 106 games for Carolina from 1999-2007 and is third on the franchise list in tackles.
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III — No. 23
The last pick of Carolina's 2020 draft class, Thomas-Oliver wore No. 21 at Florida International and now will have No. 23. Cornerback Melvin White was the last player to start a game wearing the number back in 2014. Cornerback Ken Lucas notably wore the number for the club's 2005 playoff run before switching to No. 21 for the rest of his tenure with the team from 2006-2008.
Take a look at the new jerseys for Carolina's 2020 draft class as seamstress Phyllis Dempsey takes them from blank canvas to battle uniform.
