2026 NFL Draft: Panthers play ping-pong with fourth-round pick, settling on physical CB Will Lee III originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After moving back twice, Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan finally settled on a fourth-round selection.
Focused on improving the physicality of the Panthers' secondary, Morgan selected Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III with the 129th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Morgan opened Saturday with two deals, trading down from No. 119 to No. 124 to, finally, No. 129. The Panthers' draft commander executed the first Day 3 transaction with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the second with the Chicago Bears.
Known as an aggressive defensive back, Lee compiled 40 tackles and eight passes defended during his senior campaign.
With cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, the Panthers, who yielded 203.9 passing yards per game in 2025, enter the team's offseason training activities set at cornerback.
Lee appears to add immediate rotational depth, possibly competing with Chau Smith-Wade for time at the slot position, while working behind the two established starters.
At 6-foot-2, 189 pounds, Lee was tabbed by ESPN as the 12th-best cornerback in the draft and 105th overall prospect.
Scouts Inc. reported: "Lee is good at using his frame to smother receivers in press at the line of scrimmage. But he can get beat by quick change-of-direction receivers, as he has a good, but not great top speed."
With 16 passes defended during his two seasons with Texas A&M, Lee compiled four career interceptions and one pick-six. He earned 2024 second-team All-SEC honors.
A hamstring injury hampered his pre-draft workouts. He compiled a 9.39 RAS score.
"Lee is long enough to reach in to break up passes fro a trail position," the scouting service reported. "He's good at reading the quarterback before breaking on the ball in zone coverage. He's a solid tackler in run support and can limit yardage after the catch."
Lee could start his career by challenging Akayleb Evans as the primary gunner on special teams.