Off Season Upgrades

The Carolina Panthers have never truly filled the void Greg Olsen left several years ago. To be honest, they have never really tried, at least not by investing a premium draft pick at the position. The organization has historically been reluctant to take a tight end in the first round, and that trend has held.

That said, I do like the three tight ends currently on the roster, even if their collective upside is somewhat limited. I do not believe the Panthers will draft a tight end with the 19th pick, despite several mock drafts projecting them to take the tight end out of Oregon. There are simply too many other pressing needs across the roster.

Those needs are especially glaring at tackle. The team is dealing with a devastating knee injury at left tackle, while the right tackle position is occupied by a veteran who is clearly long in the tooth. Given those realities and the number of holes throughout the roster, it makes little sense to allocate a premium pick to a tight end this year.

In my view, drafting a tight end anywhere in this draft does not provide real value. If you are looking for a true upgrade at the position, the first round is realistically the only place to find one. And with so many more critical needs, it simply is not worth it.

I think Ja’Tavion Sanders still has room to grow this season, and Tommy Tremble remains extremely solid in his role, particularly as a blocker. I also believe Mitchell Evans has some upside heading into his second year. Anyone the Panthers might draft in rounds three through six would not be an upgrade over what they already have.

This philosophy is consistent with the organization’s long standing approach. Regardless of coaching staff or front office regime, the Panthers have never placed a high value on drafting tight ends early. If you go back to the 2007 draft, they had the opportunity to select Greg Olsen and instead chose Jon Beason, a decision that perfectly encapsulates how this franchise has historically viewed the position.