The Carolina Panthers entered the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with a clear plan. They want to build on an 8–9 season and a shaky NFC South title run. They also know their young core needs more help to take the next step. As a result, this draft is about adding affordable impact players who can contribute quickly. This page tracks every pick and offers quick context on how each rookie fits the roster and long‑term vision.
The pathers come into draft weekend with seven total selections: Round 1 (No. 19), Round 2 (No. 51), Round 3 (No. 83), Round 4 (No. 119), Round 5 (Nos. 158 and 159), and Round 6 (No. 200). Those picks give general manager Dan Morgan flexibility. He can address the defense at all three levels, reinforce the offensive line, and still add weapons for Bryce Young. In other words, the Panthers have enough capital to balance need and value.
Round 1 (No. 19): Monroe Freeling, Left Tackle, Georgia
The 6-foot-plus lineman is known for his athletic movement skills, allowing him to operate comfortably in space, climb to the second level, and mirror edge rushers in pass protection.
Love 105.3 RnB? Get more! Join the 105.3 RnB Newsletter
Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription.
On tape, Freeling shows a consistent ability to finish blocks, play through the whistle, and maintain balance through contact, traits that made him a trusted piece in Georgia’s front over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Coaches and scouts have highlighted his motor and competitiveness as defining characteristics, pointing to games where he continued to strain and anchor the line even while dealing with lower-body injuries. His profile entering Carolina is that of a technically sound, high-effort tackle with starter-caliber traits who upgrades the physicality and athleticism of the Panthers’ offensive line.
Round 2 (No. 17): Lee Hunter, Defensive Tackle, Texas Tech
Lee Hunter, a second-team All-American, brings real strength to the middle of the defensive line. He’s a true two-gap run stuffer who can eat up double teams, hold his ground at the point of attack, and collapse the pocket with power. While he can play a little high at times, he’s tough to move when his pad level is right. His combine numbers didn’t jump off the page, but the tape shows a disruptive presence who can produce at the next level.
Round 3 (No. 19): Chris Brazzell II
First-team All-SEC wideout Chris Brazzell II comes to Carolina off a 62-catch, 1,017-yard, nine-touchdown season at Tennessee, where coaches and Scouts Inc. praised his long-striding acceleration, body control and ability to win deep even without bully-ball physicality. He isn’t as sharp out of breaks as you’d expect for a 6‑4 target, but evaluators note he has the flexibility to drop his weight and separate at the top of routes, plus the catch radius to adjust outside his frame. Paired with Tetairoa McMillan, Brazzell gives Bryce Young another vertical “tower” who fits Young’s Alabama calling card: high-arc deep balls with touch down the sideline, not pure velocity throws.
Round 4 (No. 29): Will Lee III, Cornerback. Texas A&M
Will Lee III is a long, competitive outside corner from Texas A&M who was projected as a mid-round, scheme-specific press‑man CB with starter upside but a capped athletic ceiling. At about 6’1, 190, he uses his length well at the line and at the catch point, disrupting routes and piling up pass breakups rather than splashy interception totals. His best work comes in press and match-man, where he can mirror, squeeze receivers to the sideline, and challenge bigger wideouts while bringing toughness and willingness in run support. Concerns center on average long speed (low‑4.5s), modest change of direction, and inconsistent zone awareness, which show up on verticals, double moves, and in off/zone where he can be late driving on throws.
Round 5 (No. 4): Sam Hecht, Center, Kansas State
Sam Hecht shows up on tape as a technically sound, athletic lineman rather than a pure mauler. He plays light on his feet with good foot quickness, balance, and core strength, which lets him stay in front of rushers and adjust in space. While his raw, moving power is only average, he can anchor against power, mirror rush moves, and sustain blocks once he’s engaged. He’s comfortable pulling, getting out on the edge, and climbing to the second level, where he consistently finds and latches onto defenders. Overall, he profiles as a reliable, assignment-sound blocker who may not dominate physically but consistently “gets the job done” and fits well in schemes that value movement skills and technique.
Round 5 (No. 11): Zakee Wheatley, Safety, Penn State
Zakee Wheatley is an active defender who consistently finds himself around the football and puts himself in position to make plays. However, he needs to finish more consistently, as missed tackles show up on his tape and will have to be cleaned up. He competes through contact and does a good job fighting through blocks, but his overall play strength is only average. In coverage, he has a knack for making plays on the ball, but his eyes can get him in trouble; he’ll occasionally peek into the backfield, lose track of his receiver, and once he’s beaten, he struggles to recover. Overall, he’s a high‑activity defender with playmaking flashes, but he must tighten up his tackling and eye discipline to maximize his impact.
Round 7 (No. 11): Jackson Kuwatch, Linebacker, Miami (OH)
Jackson Kuwatch is a late-rising Miami (OH) linebacker/edge prospect with production, motor and athletic profile that all translate to special teams and sub-package work early in the league. The former Ohio State walk-on blossomed in 2025, reportedly piling up over 100 tackles with double-digit tackles for loss and five sacks as a full-time starter, flashing range and closing burst as a pursuit player. Reports out of the pre-draft process note he posted an 8.85 Relative Athletic Score, a strong number that backs up the “see ball, go get ball” style you see on tape. He is still relatively new to big snap counts and faces a jump in processing and block deconstruction at NFL speed, but profiles as a high-energy depth linebacker who can cover kicks while a staff tries him as a hybrid off-ball LB and situational rusher.
