7 Football Players who Played for Bills and Panthers
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played on both the Bills and Panthers.
Kelvin Benjamin
Kelvin Benjamin was drafted 28th overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2014 NFL Draft. He quickly made an impact in his rookie season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards and becoming one of quarterback Cam Newton’s favorite targets.
However, an ACL injury sidelined him for the entirety of the 2015 season, during which the Panthers made a Super Bowl appearance. Upon his return, Benjamin continued to produce for the Panthers before being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2017.
He later had a brief stint with the Chiefs. After his time in the NFL, Benjamin attempted a transition to the tight end position and had a short-lived tenure with the New York Giants during the 2021 offseason.
*Benjamin was the most popular pick for this square in a previous grid (Grid 20)
Mike Tolbert
Mike Tolbert was an undrafted free agent who signed with the San Diego Chargers in 2008. Primarily utilized as a fullback, he played for the Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Buffalo Bills during his 10-year NFL career.
A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro (2013, 2015), Tolbert was an essential piece in both rushing and blocking schemes. His career totals include 2,649 rushing yards, 1,861 receiving yards, and 46 total touchdowns.
Tolbert’s versatility and effectiveness in various offensive roles made him a valuable asset to his teams, especially during his time with the Carolina Panthers, where he played a crucial role in the team’s Super Bowl 50 appearance.
Tolbert Key Stats
- 1st Team All-Pro (Panthers)
- Pro Bowl (Panthers)
Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson had an NFL career spanning over a decade. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft but didn’t make his mark until 2007 when he became the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.
That year for the Browns, Anderson had a Pro Bowl season, throwing for 3787 yards and 29 touchdowns. However, he couldn’t maintain that level of performance in the subsequent seasons.
Anderson spent the majority of his career as a reliable backup, primarily for the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2017, where he occasionally stepped in for Cam Newton. He ended his NFL journey with the Buffalo Bills in 2018. Anderson passed for 10,878 yards and 60 touchdowns over his career.
Shayne Graham
Shayne Graham is a former placekicker who had a lengthy NFL career. He was initially signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2000. Graham played for several teams throughout his career, including the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Atlanta Falcons, among others.
He is perhaps best known for his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was selected to the Pro Bowl and named a 2nd-team All-Pro in 2005. During that season, he made 28 of 32 field goal attempts and all 47 of his extra-point tries.
Graham’s reliability as a kicker made him a sought-after player for many teams looking for stability at the position. Over the course of his career, he scored over 1,200 points, making him one of the more productive kickers in NFL history. He has also been remarkably accurate, with a career field goal percentage of 85.5%.
Frank Reich
Frank Reich’s career in the NFL is marked by both his tenure as a player and a coach. He was drafted in the third round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. During his playing days, Reich served primarily as a backup quarterback, most notably to Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.
Reich’s playing career spanned over a decade, and he played for teams including the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions. One of the highlights of his playing career came in the ’92 playoffs when he led the Bills to the largest comeback in NFL history, erasing a 32-point deficit to defeat the Houston Oilers in OT.
After retiring as a player, Reich transitioned into coaching, where he has enjoyed significant success. He took on various roles, working his way up the coaching ladder. Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles when they won Super Bowl LII.
Chris Hogan
Chris Hogan was undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft but eventually found his way into the league. He’s had a journeyman career, playing for multiple teams including Bills (2012–2015), Patriots (2016–2018), Panthers (2019), Jets (2020), and the Saints (2021).
Some of his biggest career highlights came during his time with the New England Patriots, where he won two Super Bowls, Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII.
In Super Bowl LI, Hogan was part of the team that made a historic comeback against the Atlanta Falcons, overcoming a 28-3 deficit. He was particularly effective in the AFC Championship game leading up to Super Bowl LI, where he had 9 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Ray-Ray McCloud
Ray-Ray McCloud is a wide receiver and return specialist. He currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers (as of the 2022 season). He was drafted out of Clemson by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
He has a career total of 78 receptions, 633 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. But, where he has shined is in the return game where he has 2213 kick return yards, and 1123 punt return yards – leading the league in punt return yards (367) in 2021.
