The Carolina Panthers came into existence in 1995, so they don’t have a long history.  But, I decided to look back and rank every QB who has started at least 1 game in team history.  Here’s is how the rankings look:

 1. Jake Delhomme – Jake Delhomme is the longest tenured QB for the Panthers and he’s also the best one.  He has a 53-37 (58.9%) record as a starter for the Panthers.  He has played in 91 games (90 starts) for the Panthers and he has completed 1,580 of 2,669 passes (59.2%) for 19,258 yards with 120 TD passes and 89 INTs (82.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 152 times for 260 yards (1.7 ypc) with 5 TD runs for the Panthers.  Delhomme made it to 1 Pro Bowl with the Panthers and he came darned close to winning them a Super Bowl in an impressive duel with the Patriots.

 2. Steve Beuerlein – Steve Beuerlein had a couple very impressive years for the Panthers.  The Panthers were only 23-28 (45.1%) when he started games but the losses weren’t all his fault.  Beuerlein played in 59 games (51 starts) for the Panthers and he completed 1,041 of 1,723 passes (60.4%) for 12,690 yards with 86 TD passes and 50 INTs (87.7 QB Rating).  Beuerlein also carried the ball 109 times for 305 yards (2.8 ypc) with 3 TD runs for the Panthers.  He made it to 1 Pro Bowl as the QB for the Panthers.

 3. Kerry Collins – Kerry Collins was the first starting QB for the Panthers.  He led them to a 22-20 (52.4%) record as a starting QB.  He even got them to the NFC Championship Game in the second year of the team’s existence.  Collins played in 45 games (42 starts) for the Panthers and he completed 694 of 1,340 passes (51.8%) for 8,306 yards with 47 TD passes and 54 INTs (66.0 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 107 times for 217 yards (2.0 ypc) with 4 TD runs for the Panthers.  Collins also made it to 1 Pro Bowl in his time with the Panthers.

 4. Rodney Peete – Rodney Peete wasn’t with the Panthers long but he played decent football for them.  The Panthers were 8-7 (53.3%) when Peete started for them.  He played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Panthers and he completed 228 of 392 passes (58.2%) for 2,652 yards with 15 TD passes and 14 INTs (76.6 QB Rating).  Peete also carried the ball 23 times for 13 yards (0.6 ypc) for the Panthers.

 5. Matt Moore – Matt Moore blew his shot last year to be the Panthers’ starting QB, but he did play well for them before last year.  The Panthers are 7-6 (53.8%) when Moore has started.  He has played in 22 games (13 starts) for the Panthers and he has completed 227 of 392 passes (57.9%) for 2,640 yards with 16 TD passes and 17 INTs (73.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 20 times for 27 yards (1.4 ypc) for the Panthers.

 6. Jimmy Clausen – Jimmy Clausen had a rough rookie year in 2010, but he didn’t have a lot of help.  The Panthers were 1-9 (10.0%) in games started by Clausen last year.  Clausen played in 13 games (10 starts) for the Panthers last year and he completed 157 of 299 passes (52.5%) for 1,558 yards with 3 TD passes and 9 INTs (58.4 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 23 times for 57 yards (2.5 ypc) for the Panthers last year.

 7. Chris Weinke – Weinke was thrown into the fire early in his career with the Panthers and he wasn’t ready.  The Panthers were 2-17 (10.5%) when Weinke started for them.  He played in 27 games (19 starts) for the Panthers and he completed 373 of 687 passes (54.3%) for 3,800 yards with 14 TD passes and 26 INTs (61.4 QB Rating).  Weinke also carried  the ball 54 times for 148 yards (2.7 ypc) with 6 TD runs for the Panthers.

 8. David Carr – David Carr made a brief appearance with the Panthers and it didn’t go too well.  The Panthers were 1-3 (25.0%) in games started by Carr.  Carr played in 6 games (4 starts) for the Panthers and he completed 73 of 136 passes (53.7%) for 635 yards with 3 TD passes and 5 INTs (58.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 17 times for 59 yards (3.5 ypc) with the Panthers.

 9. Frank Reich – Frank Reich didn’t last too long for the Panthers.  The Panthers were 0-3 in games started by Reich.  Reich played in 3 games (all starts) for the Panthers and he completed 37 of 84 passes (44.0%) for 441 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 INTs (58.7 QB Rating).  Reich also carried the ball 1 time for 3 yards for the Panthers.

10. Brian St. Pierre – Brian St. Pierre got a start last year when Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen were injured.  The Panthers lost the game.  St. Pierre played in 1 game (1 start) for the Panthers and he completed 13 of 28 passes (46.4%) for 173 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs (48.7 QB Rating).

11. Matt Lytle – Matt Lytle made a quick appearance for the Panthers before fading away.  The Panthers lost Lytle’s only start.  Lytle played in 3 games (1 start) for the Panthers and he completed 17 of 30 passes (56.7%) for 133 yards with 1 TD pass and 3 INTs (39.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 2 times for 8 yards (4.0 ypc).

12. Randy Fasani – Randy Fasani was like dust in the wind for the Panthers.  The Panthers lost his only start at QB.  Fasani played in 4 games (1 start) for the Panthers and he completed 15 of 44 passes (34.1%) for 171 yards with 0 TD passes and 4 INTs (8.8 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 18 times for 95 yards (5.3 ypc) for the Panthers.

So there you have it, my rankings of the Panthers’ starting QBs in team history.

The Carolina Panthers made the decision to go with QB Cameron Newton as the #1 overall pick and now they will have to live with it.  Newton only started one season in division 1 football at Auburn.  He was very impressive that year but he reminds me a lot more of Akili Smith than Warren Moon or Randall Cunningham.  I don’t doubt his talent on the field physically, just from the neck up.  The Panthers then focused on improving the interior of the D-Line with DTs Terrell McClain and Sione Fua, and they should help out the run defense.  CB Brandon Hogan has off the field issues, but if he has his head on straight, he could really help out the Panthers’ secondary.  WR Kealoha Pilares is a slot type receiver who isn’t scared to go over the middle.

PROJECTED GRADE:  C-