What if the Panthers drafted Chris Johnson instead of Johnathan Stewart?

[Pimpdaddy]

Double Trouble is gold and I think they'r the best tandem in the NFL. If we could just shore up the passing game I think they would be even more effective...

[OneBadassCat]

Stewart is a more complete runner than Chris Johnson.

[X-Clown]

how many of those backs are doing good this year? Rice and Mendenhall

I'm pretty sure Matt Forte could do a much better job behind our line than the shitfest that is known as the Bears O-line.

[pantherdad]

we don't do ghetto

^this^

[Miaoww]

It's still very early in their careers, we'll see who turns out to be the better player in 5 years.

I was dead against drafting Stewart with our first rounder, but in hindsight it's clearly worked out well for us.

[Delhommey]

I'm pretty sure Matt Forte could do a much better job behind our line than the shitfest that is known as the Bears O-line.

Choice and Kevin Smith too.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

My mind is spinning at the potential nickname implications.

[HSCBandit07]

deangelo/chris = willie-johnson?

[Ricky Spanish]

i'd rather have a QB than stewie.

I still don't like delhomme by the way.

[unicar15]

I'd rather have Johnson than Stewie. I also would've rather picked up Flacco.

Stewart is getting a raw deal because Jake sucks. I would like to have Joe Flacco too but Stewart is a starting running back on most other teams in the league.

[Ricky Spanish]

My mind is spinning at the potential nickname implications.

If we had kevin smith they could be Jay and Silent Bob.

[SCPantherFan90]

I dislike the Titans only because of Chris Johnson and Lendale White. Those two are nothing but thugs. Did anyone remember when Johnson said he wanted to scratch "Smash n Dash" and have his own nickname: "Every Coach's Dream"...

1. That was one of the most self-centered, egotistical things I've ever heard an NFL player say.

2. The nickname has more syllables than his first and last name, therefore it is retarded.

...but what else can you expect from a douchebag like him.

[Cyberjag]

At the time of the draft our needs were OL, WR, and RB. A lot of people seem to forget that Williams didn't really explode until well into the 2008 season. He was largely seen as a change-of-pace back like Norwood in Atlanta. That offseason was the one where he took Testaverde's advice and really worked his ass off, making himself into the star he is today.

A lot of good running backs came out of that class, but not a ton were viewed as surefire stars in the making at the time. Stewart would have been considered near or at the top of the list had he not had foot problems. The consensus was that if his foot was going to be ok, then the pick was great. After he was taken, a LOT of people, both around here and in the media, thought he would be our starter before long.

Forte would have been a good pick had we taken him in the second round and Otah in the first. But that's a really easy game to play. We really should have taken Tom Brady in the fourth, right?

I think the answer to the question that the OP is asking is that Stewart, if healthy, was a top-3 running back in the Stephen Davis mold, we felt that we needed a running back, and he was a steal, if healthy, with the 13th pick. If we hadn't had our shot at Stewart, I'm betting it would have been Forte in the second and not Johnson in the first, both because of his size and style and because we really, really needed a tackle and none of the backs outside Stewart were worth the 13th pick.

[CRA]

if was drafted Chris Johnson odds are Smitty would have already punched him in the face by now. DWill probably would not get along w/ him on the same level as Stewart.....unhappy guys normally aren't as productive imo. Johnson is a talented by a huge D bag.