The Panthers selected Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III with the 119th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding depth and competition to the secondary. Lee, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound boundary corner with long arms, gives Carolina an experienced defensive back who started the last two years for the Aggies.
Will Lee III’s path to the draft was a winding one. He began his college career in junior college in Iowa, moved on to Kansas State and then transferred to Texas A&M, where he became a two-year starter. As a junior, Lee had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown, production that helped build his profile before the Panthers made him the 119th overall selection.
Carolina’s decision fits a clear need. The Panthers wanted more depth and competition in the secondary, and Lee’s size and reach match the traits the team has been targeting. He is viewed as an experienced boundary corner, the kind of player who can add structure to a defensive backfield that needs more options.
The question now is how quickly Lee can translate that experience into a role in Carolina. His résumé shows steady development at every stop, but the Panthers are bringing him in to compete, not to be handed a job. That makes the next stretch of offseason work the most important part of his first months with the team.