​The Carolina Panthers appear to have had another strong offseason, but some believe they’re missing the final piece. NFL.com’s Matt Okada gave them a B+ for their recent moves, praising additions like outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, inside linebacker Devin Lloyd, and first-round left tackle Monroe Freeling, while questioning whether they’ve solved the tight end position. Okada notes that landing a tight end weapon would have been nice, pointing to Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq as a potential target and suggesting David Njoku as a signing option before he joined the Chargers, though that ship has mostly sailed unless they pursue a veteran like Darren Waller at age 33. He also argues it’ll be on Phillips and Lloyd to elevate the defense and for Bryce Young to mature into the franchise quarterback with the current weapons.
Okada isn’t alone in feeling the Panthers need more production at tight end. The concern is shared by others, noting that the last time a Panthers tight end topped 500 receiving yards was 2019 with Greg Olsen. Still, the Panthers seem satisfied with their current TE room, led by soon-to-be- sixth-year veteran Tommy Tremble, who led the group with 249 receiving yards in 2025. He’s joined by 2024 fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans. As for where receiving production will come from, the Panthers are counting on their wideouts to step up. Tetairoa McMillan, the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year, is entering his second pro season; Jalen Coker has just signed a three-year extension; 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette faces a make-or-break year; and 2026 third-round pick Chris Brazzell II could be ready to contribute immediately.