Here at Cat Scratch Reader we have counted down the final 100 days leading up to the Carolina Panthers season opener by for at least the past ten years. We’ve always done this by highlighting the current player on the roster whose jersey number matches the day on the countdown. This year, we decided to change that up a bit by counting down our own list of the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This does not correspond to jersey number, does not need to be somebody who wore a jersey, and will in no way be controversial.
#69. Doug Evans
Evans was originally a sixth round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 1993 NFL Draft. After coming off the bench his rookie season, Evans was a starter at cornerback for the Packers for the next four seasons, only missing one regular season game during that time. The timing of his breakout coincided with the breakout for the Packers as a whole, as he notched his best season to date in 1996, helping the Packers claim the Lombardi Trophy. He was arguably even better the next season, earning Second Team All-Pro honors in 1997. During the 1998 offseason, the Panthers managed to pry Evans away from the Packers, signing him to a five year contract worth $22.5 million. That contract was the second largest contract for a defensive back in NFL history at the time, trailing only Deion Sanders’ deal with the Dallas Cowboys. To put that contract into perspective, Jaycee Horn’s new contract is almost identical in terms of annual cap percentage at signing at just under nine percent.
The high priced union didn’t start out great, as Evans battled injuries starting in Week 4 with a dislocated thumb against the Packers and ultimately ending his season after a separated shoulder against the 49ers in Week 10. For the next three seasons, though, Evans started every single game at cornerback for the Panthers and was dynamic. Just in those three seasons, he notched 47 passes defended, 12 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and five fumbles recovered. Evans was a consistent ball hawk, though did so in a multitude of ways. For example, the 2000 season only saw Evans nab a couple of interceptions but recover a franchise record five fumbles while the 2001 season saw him not recover any fumbles but set a franchise record with eight interceptions.
Ultimately, the fun had to end for Evans and the Panthers after the 2001 season. The Panthers were rebuilding with newly hired John Fox at the helm and needed cap space. Meanwhile, Evans deserved the chance to play for a contender. He ultimately signed with his former Packers head coach Mike Holmgren in Seattle, where he was mostly a sub package player and depth piece. His age at the time and some recent high draft picks at the position relegated the once dominant Evans into more of a veteran mentor role. After being released during the 2003 season, he spent a couple months with the Detroit Lions before retiring at the end of the season. While the team itself wasn’t experiencing a whole lot of success during his tenure, Doug Evans made for a fun watch. His ability to turn the ball over made it feel like the game could flip at any moment. That, combined with the franchise record he still holds for interceptions in a single season and being tied for fifth all time in interceptions despite only playing three and a half seasons with the team, earns him a spot in the 60s on our countdown.
