Luke Kuechly gives his thoughts on Panthers' 2026 NFL Draft class

One of the Carolina Panthers' top draft picks may be rekindling some fond memories for Luke Kuechly.

On this week's episode his podcast JJ and Luke, the franchise great—along with co-host and longtime long snapper JJ Jansen—discussed the top of the Panthers' 2026 NFL Draft Class. When breaking down second-round pick and defensive lineman Lee Hunter, Kuechly recalled the table-setters Carolina nabbed back in 2013.

"The guys on Texas Tech—[David] Bailey the edge rusher and, obviously, Jacob Rodriguez—those guys would not have the success that they did without having a really good inside guy," he stated of Hunter. "And my second year in Carolina, we drafted Star Lotulelei in the first round and Kawann Short in the second round.

"And Thomas [Davis] and I . . . Al Holcomb, our linebacker coach, said, 'Hey you two better walk into [general manager] Dave Gettleman's office and say thank you.'"

Kuechly, with the help of Lotulelei and Short, captured the AP Defensive Player of the Year honors that very season. As a unit, the defense allowed the second-fewest yards per game (301.3) and amassed a league-leading 60 sacks while helping push the Panthers to an NFC South title.

Carolina is probably hoping that Hunter can have a similar effect on his teammates. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder was named a first-team All-American in 2025, where he registered 26 pressures and 25 stops.

So, hopefully for the Panthers, linebackers Devin Lloyd and will eventually go thank general manager Dan Morgan.