Panthers Draft Smart Center Hecht

0:00It's April 25th, I'm Cory with the story. This is NFL News Today, driven by AI and built for football fans. The Carolina Panthers just scooped up a ready-to-roll center in the fifth round of the 2026 draft, Sam Hecht from Kansas State. This 6'4", 3'3", pivot might not wow with size or speed, but his textbook technique makes him a day 1 starter type. Over three college seasons, Haika played in 38 games with 25 starts, earning second team all big 12 honors in 20. 24 and first team nods the next year. Scouts call him a top guy at his position for his brains on the field. Teams love what he brings because his movement looks smooth and natural, always adjusting to defenders without getting stuck. He stays poised, reads stunts quick, and lets offenses scheme around him creatively. That gives him one of the highest floors in the class. On the flip side, his athletic testing came up short across the board, like a 5.1 second 40 yard dash, 28 inch vertical, and no bench press reps.

1:04Still, he fights hard for position without much pop on contact. Bottom line. Hecht's marks and fundamentals could lock down the middle for Carolina right away, turning a late pick into immediate value. Keep an eye on training cam.