Panthers NFL Draft 2026: Carolina selects C Sam Hecht with the 144th overall pick

With the 144th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft the Carolina Panthers have selected center Sam Hecht from Kansas State. They acquired the pick from an earlier trade with the Chicago Bears.

He joins an offensive line room that’s lacking a long-term answer at center and will likely immediately compete for the starting role with recent free agent Luke Fortner.

Accolades

• 2 year starter
• Did not miss any of the final 25 games of his college career
• Zero penalties in 2025

Bottom line

Hecht brings a consistent option to a room that was sorely lacking in interior offensive line depth. Not flashy, but he’s able to do everything that the Panthers offense normally asks of the position without a significant weakness in playstyle.

Strengths

• Durable and plays clean; doesn’t get flagged
• Functional athleticism to operate both gap and zone schemes
• Received praise from coaches for intelligence and mindset

Weaknesses

• 13th percentile arm length
• 5th year senior with little starting experience outside of center
• Doesn’t often overwhelm assignment with power

Related

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