NFL
Panthers Projected to Go Tight End Early in Draft, Kenyon Sadiq Touted as Ideal Selection
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Oregon v Washington by Alika Jenner | Getty Images
The Carolina Panthers were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, with quarterback Bryce Young continuing to make strides and young coach Dave Canales establishing himself as a capable game manager.
Carolina got strong dividends from taking a pass catcher with its first pick a year ago, and while the team could still use some help on the offensive line and on defense, it would not surprise in the least to see them try to nab another weapon for Young to try to expand the scope of the offense and add more big-play ability.
Young was more willing to extend plays last season and push the ball downfield, but finding a compliment to 2025 first-rounder Tet McMillan is certainly in order.
While there were more flashes of a capable offense, the Panthers overall still left plenty to be desired. The Panthers lack a secondary receiving option teams must worry about and a move tight end who can win in multiple ways.
It would mot be a surprise to many in the scouting community if that’s what they leaned into at the top of the draft to try to get back to the postseason next year. No one on the roster other than McMillan had even 400 yards receiving or three touchdown receptions and the did not do much at the start of free agency to expand on those deficiencies.
Jalen Coker emerged as a big-target receiver in the second half of the season, but still needs development.
Who Makes The Most Sense?
If Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is still available when Carolina selects, he might be just the weapon Canales covets to unlock the offense and take the next step.
The team could try to find another big play guy in day two of the draft and address the offensive line first, but that’s not the expectation among some of the personnel execs I’ve talked to.
“I see them grabbing the Oregon tight end or a receiver,” one general manager also picking in the back half of the draft told SportsBoom.us.
“The owner needs this to work with Bryce. He’s not the kind of quarterback who is going to be throwing guys open all over the place. He needs weapons.”
There is an expected run on receivers to begin through the teens that could take some of the better options off the board before Carolina selects. The Panthers are +300 to use their first pick on a tight end (DraftKings).
La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.