PFF grades for all 7 picks of the Panthers' 2026 NFL Draft class

In case you haven't heard, quite a few folks really like what the Carolina Panthers did in the 2026 NFL Draft. This past weekend's work from the NFC South champions received rave reviews, and may help set them up for a successful title defense.

But how does Pro Football Focus like the class?

Here are the overall PFF grades from the college careers of each draftee . . .

First round (No. 19): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

• 2025: 71.4 (81st out of 632)
• 2024: 74.7 (91st of 639)
• 2023: 70.1 (Did not qualify)

Second round (No. 49): Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech

• 2025: 80.5 (37th out of 887)
• 2024: 72.1 (223rd out of 880)
• 2023: 75.0 (135th out of 906)
• 2022: 63.2 (553rd out of 902)
• 2021: Not enough snaps

Third round (No. 83): Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

• 2025: 79.4 (65th out of 679)
• 2024: 56.6 (556th out of 583)
• 2023: 79.9 (59th out of 667)
• 2022: Not enough snaps

Fourth round (No. 129): Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M

• 2025: 66.5 (515th out of 897)
• 2024: 68.1 (452nd out of 841)
• 2023: 76.2 (170th out of 869)

Fifth round (No. 144): Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State

• 2025: 80.3 (Fourth out of 307)
• 2024: 68.0 (99th out of 301)
• 2023: 78.1 (Did not qualify)
• 2022: 32.4 (Did not qualify)

Fifth round (No. 151): Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

• 2025: 85.9 (26th out of 914)
• 2024: 72.3 (266th out of 912)