The Carolina Panthers entered Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear mandate: add depth and competition to a roster that had already been reshaped by three days of aggressive wheeling and dealing. By the time the final round concluded Saturday in Pittsburgh, the Panthers had done exactly that, using their early Day 3 picks to snag cornerback Will Lee III and center Sam Hecht—two players who fit the team’s growing identity of versatility and toughness.
Lee, a long, physical corner out of Texas A&M, was the first selection of the day for Carolina at pick No. 141. The Panthers had traded back twice in the fourth round, moving down 10 spots from their original slot to accumulate extra capital later in the draft. That maneuvering allowed them to leap up 52 spots from the sixth round into the fifth, but they stayed put at 141 to take Lee—a player general manager Dan Morgan had circled as a priority.
“Will is a big, press-man corner who can match up with the bigger receivers in our division,” Morgan said after the pick. “We liked his ball production in college, and he’s got the kind of length we want on the outside.”
Lee measured in at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds at the combine, with an 80-inch wingspan that makes him a natural fit for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s scheme. He recorded three interceptions and 10 pass breakups as a senior, showing the ability to track the ball in the air and disrupt catch points. In Carolina’s secondary, he projects as a developmental outside corner behind Jaycee Horn and Troy Hill, with the potential to contribute on special teams immediately.
The Panthers’ secondary was a sore spot last season, ranking near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed per game. Adding Lee gives Evero another long, physical body to work with, especially in a division that features receivers like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Drake London. The team also drafted safety Jaden Hicks earlier in the weekend, signaling a clear emphasis on upgrading the back end of the defense.
Carolina’s second Day 3 pick came at No. 172 overall, where they selected Sam Hecht, a center from Wisconsin. Hecht is a technically sound, high-IQ interior lineman who started 35 games for the Badgers over four seasons. He was a team captain in 2025 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after allowing just one sack on 450 pass-blocking snaps.
“Sam is exactly what we look for in a center—smart, tough, and reliable,” head coach Dave Canales said. “He can anchor the middle of the line and also has the versatility to play guard if needed. We think he can compete for a role right away.”
Hecht’s arrival adds depth to a Panthers offensive line that returns starters Ikem Ekwonu, Austin Corbett, and Taylor Moton, but has questions at center. Current starter Brady Christensen is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the team has yet to extend him. Hecht, who took all of his college snaps at center, could push for the starting job in training camp or serve as a high-quality backup who can step in if Christensen leaves in free agency next spring.
The Panthers’ Day 3 haul also included defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (fourth round), linebacker Tyreke Smith (fifth), and safety Malik Mustapha (sixth), but Lee and Hecht were the headliners of the early slate. The team did not draft a running back or tight end, a notable omission given the departures of Miles Sanders and Hayden Hurst in free agency. Morgan and Canales addressed that after the draft, saying they felt confident in the current depth at those positions and would continue to monitor the market.
“We had a plan going in, and we stuck to it,” Morgan said. “We wanted to add competition at every level of the defense and solidify the offensive line. We feel like we did that.”
From a roster construction standpoint, the Panthers’ Day 3 picks are about building a foundation for sustained success. Lee and Hecht are not expected to be immediate stars, but they fill specific needs that were exposed last season. Carolina’s defense struggled to create turnovers and pressure the quarterback, while the offensive line dealt with inconsistency at the pivot. Both picks address those issues without forcing the team to reach for need earlier in the draft.
The financial implications are minimal—Day 3 picks come with modest contracts and limited guarantees—but the long-term value could be significant. If Lee develops into a starting outside corner, he could save the Panthers millions compared to the free-agent market. Hecht, meanwhile, could provide a cheap, reliable starter at a premium position for the next four years.
For Canales and Morgan, the 2026 draft was about more than just adding talent. It was about establishing a philosophy. The Panthers entered the weekend with seven picks and left with five defensive players and two offensive linemen. They traded back, accumulated picks, and targeted players with high character and positional versatility. Lee and Hecht fit that mold perfectly.
“We wanted to get tougher, smarter, and more competitive,” Canales said. “I think we did that.”
The Panthers will open training camp in late July, and both Lee and Hecht will have a chance to earn roles early. For a team that finished 5-12 last season, every competition matters. And on Day 3 of the draft, Carolina added two players who could help change the trajectory of the roster.