NFL Draft 2026: Tracking draft picks; Panthers take Tennessee receiver in third round

NC State tight end Justin Joly will have to wait till Saturday to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL draft.

Joly and his family watched at a gathering in Cary as numerous tight ends were taken in rounds 2 and 3. As the night stretched on, it became apparent that the gifted Wolfpack receiver would have to wait until rounds 4-7 to hear his name called.

Wolfpack tight end hoped to hear his name called Friday night at an NFL draft watch party in Cary, but he'll have to wait till Saturday

Other Triangle players, including several from Duke and North Carolina, are also waiting to hear their names called.

The Carolina Panthers snagged big receiver Chris Brazzell II out of Tennessee in the third round on Friday.

The Panthers took the 6-4 Brazzell with the 83rd overall pick. He was a first-team All-SEC honoree after catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns.

Barring a trade, the Panthers are done drafting until Saturday.

Former NC State defensive back Brandon Cisse, who finished his college career at South Carolina, was taken by the Green Bay Packers in the second round on Friday night.

The Packers, who didn't have a first-round pick, chose Cisse at No. 52 overall. This marked the latest that Green Bay has ever made its opening pick in a draft.

Gutekunst said at a pre-draft news conference Tuesday that cornerback was probably the position where "we're going to need to add the most numbers." Green Bay lacked proven cornerbacks beyond the tandem of Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine.

Cisse is eager to show he's ready to help out. His emotional reaction to the announcement of his name was caught on camera during the draft telecast.

"It's special," Cisse said. "I saw the area code, and I saw Green Bay Packers, and it's like a moment come true. Just really can't put it into words."

Cisse said his girlfriend's family members are big Packers fans from Wisconsin, giving him plenty of familiarity with his new team.

"Just a historic tradition," Cisse said. "Cheesehead, Go Pack Go, just a very loud stadium, Lambeau Field."

Although Cisse's college numbers don't jump off the page, the Packers believe he has plenty of qualities that should translate to the NFL.

Cisse spent last season at South Carolina after playing two years at NC State. The 6-footer totaled 10 pass breakups and two interceptions in three college seasons.

Packers national scout Mike Owen said he lives about 35 minutes from South Carolina's campus and spent plenty of time with Cisse.

"When you go there, they spoke highly of him in the weight room, at practice," Owen said. "Smart kid, always watching a ton of football. Every time I went there, he was in the recruiting office watching the NFL, college or high school. That's what I love about the kid. He really loves football at the end of the day."

Cisse's love for football was evident from the trip he took to watch last season's NFC championship game at Seattle in person. He hopes to eventually be playing in a game with similarly high stakes.

"It's something that you really strive for," Cisse said. "So I look forward to it and being able to get in that kind of environment."

- The Associated Press contributed.

The Carolina Panthers selected Lee Hunter, a nose tackle from Texas Tech, with their first pick of the second round on Friday.

The Panthers moved up to 17th, the 49th overall pick to take the 6-4, 318-pound Hunter.

In the trade, Carolina sent the 19th pick(51st overall) and a fifth-round pick (159th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers also received a sixth-round pick (196th overall).

Barring another trade, the Panthers won't pick again until later in round 3.