We are up to the year 2000 with our Panthers draft history review. I'm going to give you a list of draft gem candidates from the 2000 Panthers draft and you simply pick the biggest gem in your opinion. So here we go.

2 (57) S Deon Grant

After sitting the bench his first season for the Panthers Grant was a 16 game starter the next three. In 48 starts Grant logged 215 tackles 30 passes defensed and 11 INTs. Unfortunately Grant was the first in a string of quality Panther starters who left for greener $$ pastures. Grant is still in the NFL, a 16 game starter last season for the Giants. In fact, Grant hasn't missed a start since that first season with the Panthers; that's 11 straight seasons as a starter that included 3 year stints in Seattle and Jacksonville. Grant has 29 career INTs.   

6 (182) G Jeno James 

James was one of the key cogs in the Panthers 2003 run to the Super Bowl. Originally drafted as a tackle he was moved inside to LG in 2002 and was a key cog in the Panthers power running game led by RB Stephen Davis. James played four seasons for the Panthers before leaving after the SB in a contract tiff. 

One more candidate gem and a poll after the jump...

Pictured: WR Steve Smith and LG Jeno James from 2003 season

via cache3.asset-cache.net

7 (221) LB Lester Towns

Towns not only made the Panthers team he ended up starting in his first season. Towns could have been a quality starter in the NFL if not for a string of injuries that kept him off the field just when he was getting the opportunity. Towns finished with just under 100 tackles for the Panthers in his four seasons. After sitting our 2004 Towns played parts of two more seasons, first for the Cardinals and then the Dolphins before retiring.  

So those are the three choices for Gem of the 2000 draft.

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