The Carolina Panthers have a new center.
The Carolina Panthers drafted Kansas State center Sam Hecht with the 144th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hecht, a former walk-on, started the last two years for the Wildcats and earned All-Big 12 honors last year.
"Hecht lacks ideal mass and length but it will be hard to find a center in this year’s draft with better technique," Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote. "He plays with well-placed inside hands that help maximize his leverage and core strength. All schemes are available to him but his athleticism will shine when activated in space. He stays sticky to blocks once he connects, but his lack of length will put him on the wrong side of the battle from time to time in both the run and pass phases. Hecht needs to add more muscle mass to his frame but he has the consistency and tape of a future starter."
Many NFL draft scouts have compared Hecht to Tanor Bortolini of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Panthers made the playoffs last season after winning the NFC South. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round at home.
Carolina QB Bryce Young finished the 2025 season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
Young enters next season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform. He's 14-30-0 as a starter.
Young is set to make $12.1 million next season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option will be worth a guaranteed $25.9 million once exercised.
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