Two Carolina Panthers draft picks were named among the best value picks of the 2026 NFL Draft by The Athletic.
The NFL offseason continues to roll on as we will know the schedule for the 2026 season this week. For the Carolina Panthers, they are coming off a NFC South title and a playoff appearance, hoping to take the next step here in 2026.
Following an active offseason, the expectations are a little higher for the Panthers and Dave Canales. But the moves they made should help improve the roster in terms of free agency and their early draft picks.
As the Panthers get set to hit the field for the rest of offseason practices, we are getting an early look at this 2026 draft class. And one publication had some praise for the Panthers and a pair of rookies.
Carolina Panthers have two rookies on best value list
During the draft each year, The Athletic's Dan Brugler puts out his annual "The Beast" guide. It's thought of as one of the best draft guides each year and is loaded with information.
Now that the draft is complete, The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner looked at which rookies are the best value in terms of where they were drafted and where Brugler had them in his rankings. The result includes two Panthers rookies.
First up for the Panthers was center Sam Hecht who was selected at No. 144 overall but was ranked 92nd by Brugler:
A smart player who moves well laterally and has more power than you’d think, Hecht (6-4, 303) has starter potential — possibly as a rookie. He did not commit a penalty last season, and despite size concerns, he was one of the more durable linemen in college football, with 25 straight starts to close his career.
The second player on the list was safety Zakee Wheatley who was selected at No. 151 but ranked No. 78:
A jumbo safety who is quicker than fast, Wheatley (6-3, 203) has the size to be a potential box hybrid and the body fluidity to play either safety spot in the NFL — despite having less-than-desirable speed. If he can become a more consistent tackler, Wheatley could be a real difference-maker.
Now, this is just value based on the rankings and the play on the field will be the ultimate factor. But it's nice to see the Panthers earn some recognition this early in the season.