The Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2023 will officially be inducted on Aug. 3.
With less than a month until the annual event in Canton, Ohio, we're examining which players — past and present — on the league's 32 teams we think will one day receive a similar honor.
Here are three Carolina Panthers who should eventually receive football immortality:
Luke Kuechly
His career was unfortunately cut short due to injuries, but Kuechly was the best linebacker in football when he played from 2012-19.
After being named Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year, he received Defensive Player of the Year honors during his second season. In five of his eight years in the league, Kuechly was a First-Team All-Pro.
Among his other honors, Kuechly was a member of the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team, led the league in tackles twice and made the Pro Bowl in each of his final seven seasons.
Kuechly officially retired from the NFL on June 2, 2020 at just 29 years old after suffering three concussions in the span of three seasons. His career was shorter than most players in the Hall of Fame, but few accomplished what he did in such a brief span.
He should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in next year's class of 2025.
Greg Olsen
This one might be a tad controversial considering it leaves quarterback Cam Newton off the list, but hear us out. Although Olsen was overshadowed during his career playing in an era with great tight ends, including Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce, he still holds an impressive NFL record.
Olsen was the first tight end in league history with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (2014-16) and only one of two all-time (Kelce).
In addition to being one of the best tight ends while active, Olsen has become one of the best color commentators in the business since retirement. So, if he never gets a call from Pro Football Hall of Fame, perhaps the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame will one day give him a ring.
That would be a loss for the fine folks in Canton. Olsen's historic career is worthy of enshrinement, plus you know he'll keep the fun times going at the after party.
Olsen won't be eligible for enshrinement until 2026, and considering voters inexplicably snubbed Gates in his first year on the ballot, he'll probably need at least a couple voting cycles to garner enough support.
Steve Smith Sr.
How is Smith not in the Hall already?
The 2005 AP Comeback Player of the Year, Smith ranks eighth in NFL history in receiving yards (14,731). He's an all-time great who outplayed his 5-foot-9 frame to reach five Pro Bowls and be named First-Team All-Pro twice.
He was first eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2022 but has yet to even make it to the final ballot in three seasons.
Smith is the Panthers all-time leading receiver (12,197 yards) and finished his career with an excellent three-year run with the Ravens.
In 2014, his first year in Baltimore, Smith became the 13th wide receiver in league history to have 1,000 receiving yards in his age-35 season or older, per Stathead. No one has accomplished the feat since.
