The 2013 NFL Draft held significant promise for the Carolina Panthers, who, holding the 14th overall pick, aimed to bolster their defensive front. They ultimately selected Star Lotulelei, a defensive tackle from Utah, a powerful run-stuffer projected to be a top-tier interior force. While Lotulelei had a solid, respectable NFL career, contributing to a Panthers team that reached Super Bowl 50, a fascinating “what if” lingers. What if, instead of Lotulelei, the Panthers had landed a defensive tackle from that very same draft class who would go on to win a Super Bowl, elevating their defensive prowess even further?
The 2013 defensive tackle class was actually quite deep, featuring a number of players who would go on to have impactful NFL careers, some even reaching the pinnacle of the sport. While Lotulelei spent five seasons with the Panthers and was a key piece of their defensive line, he didn’t quite live up to the “star” billing of a top-15 pick in terms of consistent disruptive pass-rush production.
If the Panthers were to rewrite history and select a defensive tackle from the 2013 class who would later become a Super Bowl champion, one name stands out prominently: Brandon Williams.
Brandon Williams, a massive and dominant run-stuffing defensive tackle, was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round (94th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Missouri Southern. While not a first-round pick like Lotulelei, Williams carved out an exceptional NFL career that culminated in a Super Bowl victory.
Williams spent the bulk of his career, nine seasons, with the Baltimore Ravens, becoming one of the league’s premier nose tackles and a true anchor of their formidable run defense. He then played one final year with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, where he achieved the ultimate prize: a Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl LVII.
- Elite Run Defense: Williams was an absolute beast against the run. From 2013 to 2020, he consistently ranked among the NFL’s best run defenders, earning a 91.0 PFF run-defense grade in that span, which was ninth among qualified interior defenders. His ability to command double teams, shed blocks, and clog running lanes was truly elite. The Panthers’ defense, even during their strong years, could have benefited immensely from a player of Williams’ consistent run-stuffing prowess. He earned a positive grade on 25.2% of his run-defense snaps over that eight-year stretch, the second-highest rate at the position.
- Championship Pedigree: While Star Lotulelei was part of a Panthers team that reached Super Bowl 50, Brandon Williams actually won a Super Bowl. This difference in outcome isn’t solely on one player, but a player with a championship ring brings an undeniable winning pedigree and experience to a locker room.
- Durability and Longevity: Williams was remarkably durable and consistent throughout his career. He rarely missed games and provided reliable, high-level play for over a decade. Lotulelei’s career, while respectable (8 seasons), didn’t quite match Williams’ longevity at the elite level.
- Complement to Kawann Short: The Panthers famously double-dipped at defensive tackle in the 2013 draft, also selecting Kawann Short in the second round. Short went on to have a phenomenal career, often being the more disruptive pass-rusher of the two. Imagine a defensive line with a prime Brandon Williams anchoring the middle against the run, allowing Short to focus on his pass-rushing abilities, alongside emerging talent like Kony Ealy and a veteran like Charles Johnson. That would have been a truly terrifying front. While Lotulelei and Short formed a good tandem, Williams’ specific skillset as a pure run-stuffing nose tackle might have provided an even more dominant foundation.
- Impact on Linebackers: A defensive tackle like Williams, who consistently occupies multiple blockers, frees up linebackers to make plays. Luke Kuechly, the Panthers’ legendary linebacker, would have had even more unobstructed lanes to attack ball carriers, potentially elevating his already Hall of Fame-level play.
The 2013 NFL Draft was rich with defensive tackle talent beyond Lotulelei and Williams. Other notable defensive tackles drafted that year include:
- Sheldon Richardson (13th overall to NY Jets): A Defensive Rookie of the Year who was a disruptive force, particularly against the run. He earned a 90.5 PFF run-defense grade from 2013 to 2016.
- Kawann Short (44th overall to Carolina Panthers): As mentioned, Short was a two-time All-Pro and a highly disruptive pass-rusher for the Panthers. He arguably had a more impactful career than Lotulelei in terms of overall disruption.
- Sharrif Floyd (23rd overall to Minnesota Vikings): Had a promising start to his career but was unfortunately cut short due to injuries.
- Johnathan Hankins (49th overall to NY Giants): A solid run defender who played for several teams over a long career, still going strong in 2025.
In a hypothetical redraft, some analysts, including Pro Football Focus, have indeed suggested that the Panthers should have taken Brandon Williams over Star Lotulelei. PFF specifically noted that while Williams didn’t have much pass-rush production, he was one of the NFL’s best run stoppers.
This is the eternal question of the “what if” scenario. The Panthers made Super Bowl 50 with Star Lotulelei as a starting defensive tackle, ultimately losing to the Denver Broncos. While Brandon Williams’s presence would undoubtedly have solidified their run defense even further and potentially opened up more pass-rushing opportunities for others, it’s impossible to say definitively that he alone would have swung the outcome of that game or the overall season. Football is the ultimate team sport, and a Super Bowl victory depends on dozens of factors, including offensive performance, coaching decisions, and special teams.
However, having a player of Brandon Williams’ caliber – a true cornerstone run defender with a Super Bowl ring – would have provided a higher floor and potentially a higher ceiling for that Panthers defense. It would have been a clear upgrade in terms of consistent, elite-level play at a crucial position. While Lotulelei was a good player for the Panthers, the vision of a Super Bowl champion like Brandon Williams anchoring their defensive line in 2013 paints a tantalizing picture of what might have been. It underscores the fine margins in NFL drafting and how a different choice, even a few rounds later, can lead to a Super Bowl-winning legacy.
