One NFL legend every team wishes they could bring back in 2021

By Randy Gurzi | Jun 21, 2021

Minnesota Viking Randy Moss (R) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Daunte Culpepper before Buccaneer Ronde Barber (L) in the second quarter 29 October 2000 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Peter MUHLY (Photo by PETER MUHLY / AFP) (Photo by PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 23: Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers takes the field against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers: Julius Peppers, EDGE

This season, the Carolina Panthers are hoping to take their next step under head coach Matt Rhule. In his first season, they finished 5-11 but that was without their best player as Christian McCaffrey was injured early in the year.

They aren’t just expecting his return to health to fix everything though as Carolina went out and traded for Sam Darnold in an effort to get better under center. With the third overall pick from 2018 under contract, the Panthers elected to send Teddy Bridgewater to Denver. Their hope is that Darnold’s issues in New York were due to Adam Gase and his style of coaching which would give them a young player who could guide them for the next 10-plus seasons.

With all that being said, it would be nice to bring in a wide receiver such as Steve Smith to help Darnold out. But with Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore, and Terrace Marshall on the roster, we go in a different route and improve the defense with one of the best players in team history — Julius Peppers.

An absolute athletic freak, Peppers was listed at 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds but he moved like a player 50-pounds lighter than that. He used his uncommon mix of size and speed to rack up 159.5 career sacks. His versatility was often on display as well as he had 11 career interceptions with four touchdowns on the returns.

Peppers was a nightmare to block and with Rhule’s strategy to team-building — he wants an elite defense and an offense that can control the clock — there might not be a better player to bring back to Charlotte.

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