Julius Peppers was drafted No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. 266 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 130 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #2
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 2002
- NFL games
- 266
- Years as starter
- 16
- Career AV
- 1302nd at North Carolina
- Pro Bowls
- 9
- All-Pro
- 3
The pick
How Julius Peppers came off the board in 2002.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- College
-
North Carolina
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
266 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 130 career approximate value
- Games played
- 266
- Seasons as a starter
- 16
- Career approximate value
- 1302nd among North Carolina picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 7558% of career value
- Final season
- 201816 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 9× Pro Bowl
Around pick 2
Who came off the board on either side of Julius Peppers.
Fresno State
Oregon
Texas
North Carolina in the 2002 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from North Carolina
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Robert Quinn
DE · LAR · 2011
North Carolina · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
#8
Greg Ellis
DE · DAL · 1998
North Carolina · 1× Pro Bowl
#19
Vonnie Holliday
DE · GB · 1998
North Carolina
#18
Donnell Thompson
DE · IND · 1981
North Carolina
#225
Reuben Davis
DE · TB · 1988
North Carolina
#98
Roy Barker
DE · MIN · 1992
North Carolina
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Julius Peppers in the 2002 NFL Draft
Julius Peppers is a Defensive end out of North Carolina selected No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft. 266 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 130 career approximate value North Carolina has produced 154 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Julius Peppers drafted?
Julius Peppers was selected No. 2 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL Draft (Rd 1). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2002/julius-peppers.
What college did Julius Peppers play for?
Julius Peppers played college football at North Carolina in the ACC. See every North Carolina draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/north-carolina-tar-heels.
How did Julius Peppers's NFL career turn out?
266 regular-season games · 16 seasons as a starter · 130 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 9× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2002/julius-peppers.