The Carolina Panthers spent the offseason checking off needs one by one, but one spot still stands out as unfinished business: tight end.
Training camp opened today, and while the Panthers have clearly worked to shore up the roster for the 2026 season, the tight end room remains thin. Carolina addressed a brutal pass rush by adding Jaelan Phillips.
It improved linebacker coverage by signing Devin Lloyd, who had 5 interceptions last season. On offense, the Panthers moved to stabilize the middle and the edges, bringing in Luke Fortner after Cade Mays left and adding Rasheed Walker plus first-round pick Monroe Freeling after Ikem Ekwonu got hurt.
That kind of targeted roster-building makes the one remaining hole even more obvious.
Right now, Carolina’s tight end group is Ja'Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans, and Tommy Tremble. Together, they produced under 700 receiving yards total. That’s not the kind of production that changes a passing game, and it’s why veteran options like Cole Kmet or Dawson Knox make so much sense.
Both players would step in as the clear top tight end on the Panthers immediately. Kmet and Knox were both included in PFF’s top 32 tight end rankings from Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick, and both are established veterans who would not require a massive price in a trade.
Kmet’s situation in Chicago has shifted with the rise of Colston Loveland, which has cut into his role and target share. Knox is in a similar spot in Buffalo, where Dalton Kincaid has emerged as the Bills’ top tight end and a dependable option for Josh Allen.
For Carolina, the appeal is straightforward: help is available, and it likely wouldn’t cost much. Both tight ends are north of 27 years old, and the Panthers aren’t talking themselves into a major asset haul here. A fourth-round pick would be the best-case cost for Kmet, and that’s the more realistic name to watch.
Knox would likely carry a similar price if Buffalo ever made him available, but the Bills still appear to value him even after giving him a multi-year extension. That makes Kmet the cleaner trade target if Carolina decides to finally address the one glaring hole left on its roster.
In Other News...
Panthers Hit With Another Brutal Camp Blow At The Worst Time
The Panthers had already spent part of the week talking about the future of their home, with David Tepper and Roger Goodell announcing a 20-year extension of the Bank of America naming-rights deal alongside the $1.3 billion stadium renovation that is expected to run through 2030. Goodell even raised the possibility of Charlotte becoming a future Super Bowl or NFL Draft host once the building work is done, a reminder that the franchise is trying to think big while its current roster is still taking shape.
Training camp, though, has been a much harsher reality check. Carolina opened practice with another key defender sidelined, and the injury pileup has already pushed more responsibility onto recent additions such as AJ Dillon, Luke Fortner and Monroe Freeling. With Jaycee Horn also missing time and Taylor Moton on reserve/non-football injury, the Panthers are suddenly asking a lot from the depth they added to stabilize the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Hit Another Breaking Point With Two More Starter Injuries
Training camp has already been a test of depth for Carolina, and the latest turn only adds to the strain. Starting right guard Robert Hunt and starting cornerback Mike Jackson were both limited by back tightness, leaving the Panthers to wait on further evaluation as head coach Dave Canales said each player will undergo full imaging.
The timing is especially awkward for a roster that is already juggling multiple key injuries on both sides of the ball. Carolina has been trying to piece together its offensive line without starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton, while the defense has also absorbed setbacks involving Nic Scourton, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III and Jaycee Horn. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Already Face A Camp Depth Issue After Another Roster Shakeup
Training camp has already turned into a churn point for Carolina, with the Panthers making six roster moves as they try to keep enough bodies in place to get through practice. The latest wave brought in defensive linemen Elijah Garcia and Kyon Barrs along with defensive back DeCarlos Nicholson, while offensive tackle Derrell Bailey, linebacker Jared Bartlett and defensive back Mike Reid were waived to make room.
Carolina also claimed offensive tackle Ryan Hayes off waivers and moved on from undrafted wide receiver Kobe Prentice, another sign the depth chart is still being adjusted on the fly. The timing matters because the Panthers are already dealing with a pileup of injuries on defense, and the camp roster keeps changing as they try to protect themselves against further attrition. [Read more 🡒]