The NFL Draft is often won in the later rounds, where savvy teams unearth hidden gems that develop into key contributors. For the Carolina Panthers, a franchise that just snapped a seven-year playoff drought by winning the NFC South last season, the path to sustained contention runs through Day 3 selections like these.

According to Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic, the Panthers may have struck gold with two fifth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft: center Sam Hecht and safety Zakee Wheatley. Both players offer the kind of value that separates playoff pretenders from perennial contenders.

Hecht, a 6-foot-4, 303-pound center from Kansas State, is being praised for his technical polish and surprising power. Despite questions about his size, Hecht started 25 consecutive games to close his college career and didn't commit a single penalty last season. His PFF grades tell the story: 79.6 in pass blocking and 77.7 in run blocking. While veteran Luke Fortner is currently penciled in as the starting center, Hecht's ability to push for first-team snaps could make him an instant contributor.

Wheatley, a 6-foot-3, 203-pound safety from Penn State, brings intriguing versatility to a defense that desperately needs a reliable partner for free safety Tre'Von Moehrig. Described as a "jumbo safety" who is quicker than fast, Wheatley has the size to play in the box and the fluidity to handle either safety spot. His biggest hurdle is consistency as a tackler, but if he can clean that up, he has the tools to be a difference-maker. After Nick Scott and Lathan Ransom failed to impress last season, the door is wide open for Wheatley to earn a starting role as a rookie.

Finding two potential starters on Day 3 is the kind of draft success that builds championship rosters. For Panthers fans, these late-round picks might just be the foundation of something special.