Not surprisingly, the first round of the NFL Draft was Marty Hurney's most productive during his first stint as Panthers general manager.

Now back in the role, Hurney wants to maintain his winning ways with early-round picks while improving his winning percentage in subsequent rounds.

Hurney, who is checking out the draft class this week at the NFC Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, believes he learned lessons from his previous 11 drafts and the five drafts that have transpired since his departure that will help his cause when the 2018 NFL Draft kicks off April 26.

"We've talked a lot about when you get to the second round," Hurney said before leaving for Indy. "We might have leaned toward need more (in the past), but if you keep that first-round philosophy (of best available player) in the second and third rounds, then you'd like your top three-round picks to come in and if they don't start in their first year at least fill a role and contribute.

"Keeping that philosophy after the first round – that's something I've been going through in my mind."

Hurney's last two first-round draft choices scored Luke Kuechly in 2012 and Cam Newton in 2011, continuing a string of first-round success stories that began with defensive end Julius Peppers in 2002 and offensive tackle Jordan Gross in 2003 and continued with cornerback Chris Gamble (franchise interception leader); linebackers Thomas Davis (franchise tackle leader) and Jon Beason; and running backs Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams (1-2 in franchise rushing yards).

The impressiveness of Hurney's first-round, first-pick track record can't be understated, but perhaps it's not happenstance that Hurney's one other first-round pick – offensive tackle Jeff Otah in 2008 – was the Panthers' second player chosen in that draft. Hurney opened the draft by taking Stewart even though Carolina already had Williams (i.e. best available player), but then he traded Carolina's 2009 first-round pick to get back in the first round and select Otah for an offensive line in transition. Otah was highly touted entering the draft, but he was out of the league after playing 29 games in four seasons.

Running back DeShaun Foster had an injury-shortened but successful run as Hurney's second pick in his first draft in 2002, but Foster stands alongside several subsequent second selections that didn't pan out as hoped like Otah, wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Keary Colbert, running back Eric Shelton and center Bruce Nelson.