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.

Did not miss any of the final 25 games of his college career

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.

Functional athleticism to operate both gap and zone schemes

Received praise from coaches for intelligence and mindset

5th year senior with little starting experience outside of center

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