2026 NFL Mock Draft: Carolina Panthers choose tight end

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Carolina’s offseason started fast when they burgled Jaelan Phillips away from Philadelphia via an incredible $30 million per year contract in the opening minutes of free agency. A team well acquainted with roster holes, the Panthers intentionally filled arguably their biggest need at edge almost immediately, while bringing in several other players on day one including linebacker Devin Lloyd, offensive linemen Luke Forner and Stone Forsythe, cornerback Akayleb Evans, and other ex-Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver John Metchie III. And they kept signing – between 3/10 and 3/20, they signed 21 players in a mad dash of transactions that would leave Julian Vandervelde’s head spinning (they even signed yet another Philly alumnus, RB AJ Dillon … was the Red Rifle trade some kind of peace offering? (Probably not.)) While, of course, not all of these players are starters, Carolina’s activity helped fill holes, add depth, and potentially provide them optionality in the draft.

Looking at their roster, Carolina has several bright spots. Adding Phillips and Lloyd to a defense featuring stars Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown as well other solid players like Tre’von Moehrig, Mike Jackson, Bobby Brown, Tershawn Wharton, and Nic Scourton has the makings for a competitive unit. On offense, while there are questions around Bryce Young, he has taken steps forward in years two and three, surpassing 3,000 yards and throwing for 23 TDs in 2025. Due to that progress, Carolina seems prepared to build around him and see if he continues to take positive steps. Around Young, Carolina has some O-linemen to potentially be excited about (at least at guard and tackle) and some skill players that could form a strong core – particularly AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan.

Having said all of that, there are certainly needs. Sites that cover the Panthers seem to vary on the severity of some of these but point out, to some degree, needs along both lines and possibly at WR or LB. However, many point to TE and S as the biggest holes on the roster. While I’m a proponent of selecting the best player available as a baseline M.O., it’s hard to ignore glaring needs on a building team and potentially erasing a void by adding someone who could have an immediate impact – a philosophical point espoused by head coach Dave Canales.

Luckily for Carolina at pick 19, that impact just collided at the intersection of need and available players, despite just missing out on some great options. While Dillon Thieneman, a spice so strong it burns the S out of your mouth (such a fun name to say out loud), would have been a terrific fit here, he is no longer an option thanks to Vikings at No. 18. Neither are most of the top O-lineman or anyone who has ever even audited a class at Ohio State (4 out of the first 9 picks is impressive). But you know who is available? Another exciting safety prospect in Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Oregon’s standout TE Kenyon Sadiq, and a couple compelling edge defenders in Akheem Mesidor and Keldric Faulk. Honestly, I could make an argument for any of these four options and any of them could be a good pick at 19. However, if all of these young men are in range of one another talent/value-wise, and I think they are, one must consider positional value and need to help decide. While being an Eagles fan has taught me to lean edge over safety and TE, I have to look closely at a roster that has several pass rushers, including the gem of their free agent class, and the contrasting, significant needs at S and TE. With my options narrowed to choosing between McNeil-Warren and Sadiq, I can’t ignore the potential to surround Young with another dynamic playmaker. Kenyon Sadiq it is and here’s why:

Need

I don’t want to overemphasize need, but addressing Carolina’s TE needs is essential with no compelling option currently on the roster. Sadiq would change that. While Tommy Tremble was selected in the third round in 2021, he has not proven to be a proficient receiver having never topped 250 yards or 3 TDs in a season (2025 was his best receiving year with 27 catches, 249 yards, and 2 TDs). Ja’Tavion Sanders hauled in 29 catches in 2025 for 190 yards (for a mere 6.6 avg) and a TD over 13 games – a down year after netting 33 catches for 342 yards and 1 TD in his rookie season, 2024.

Good Production (at least in 2025)

Sadiq has averaged 11.2 yards per catch in college, getting better each year. In 2025, he caught 51 passes for 560 yards (11.0 avg.) and a strong 8 TDs. He was a significant contributor to Oregon’s strong season that saw them advance to the Peach Bowl where they fell to the ultimate national champion Indiana Hoosiers. In a season that saw QB Dante Moore (over 3,500 yards) successfully spread the ball around, Oregon had five players surpass 497 yards receiving, Sadiq’s 560 yards were second on the team and his 8 TDs finished first on the team and led the nation among tight ends. He was reliable, catching 51 of his 71 targets (approximate) for a nearly 72% catch rate. While 560 yards and an 11-yard average are not other-worldly, they are good production especially considering his catch rate, number of scores, and YAC ability. 214 of his 560 total yards came after the catch coming in at a 4.73 YAC average. While this is certainly connected to the high number of screen passes that he caught, it exemplifies his versatility (more on that soon), athleticism (much more on that even sooner), and his abilities with the ball in his hands. Dante Moore had a strong 145.5 passer rating when targeting Sadiq, which transparently is not as high as Moore’s overall regular season number (163.72), but also very good (in the top six among TE’s) and possibly reflective of the high frequency of short throws that came Sadiq’s way.

Traits

Driving these numbers are notable strengths, particularly as a receiver. An incredible athlete (wait for it), Sadiq also exhibited good balance, hands, technique, extension, separation, and body control through the catch process. For example, his two TD game against Rutgers was filled with highlight catches, including an over-the-shoulder TD grab that many college tight ends just cannot do. He has a good feel for finding holes in zone defenses, making contested catches and then breaking tackles thereafter. He had a handful of gloriously angry runs this season that are just too fun to watch.

Coupled with his strength and ability on screens and in open zones, he has unbelievable speed (wait for it) for a TE. He has the potential to blow the top off a defense from the slot, exposing safeties and linebackers that simply cannot keep up with him. Frankly, he’s going to eat up small slot CB’s and blow past LB’s and most safeties. He’s a matchup nightmare for defenses.

Rare Athleticism

Where Sadiq really stands out is athleticism. His combine numbers were elite. While there are some concerns about his agility, his speed and lower body power are remarkable. Nicknamed “The Freak” by his complimentary if not derivative teammates (Jevon Kearse much, anyone?!), this young man can freakin’ run and freakin’ jump.

Sadiq set three TE records at the combine this year (caveats aplenty). That day, he tied David Njoku’s nine-year broad jump record of 11’1” AND Dorin Dickerson’s 2010 vertical jump record of 43.5”. While he was moments later out jumped by Eli Stowers in both categories (11’3” broad and 45.5” vertical – both new TE records), his jumping numbers are ostensibly elite. One record that Stowers did not beat… his combine 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds. While many sources established this as the new record over Vernon Davis’s 4.40 time, many contest that Davis actually ran it in 4.38. Either way, Sadiq is a special athlete.

Positional Flexibility

Sadiq is a chess piece (which is an odd analogy for versatility since most chess pieces are highly specific, but whatever), able to move all over the formation. He played inline and detached, in the slot, and can even line up out wide or in the back field in some sets. He caught 37% of his passes behind the line (well above average) and 31% between 0 and 9 yards. That 68% mark shows his ability to work in traffic and highlights his YAC skills as mentioned above. 20% of his targets were medium length (10-19 yards) and 13% of them were beyond 20 yards. He can line up just about anywhere and has ability at all depths of target. He truly is a receiving weapon who strains a defense, particularly if playing in an offense that utilizes pre-snap motion, which the Panthers did more of in 2025 at 57% (at least compared to an abysmal 22% of their snaps in 2024) but could still increase. In a copy-cat league, it is worth noting that 2025 marked an all-time high in pre-snap motion across the league at 63.9%. A player like Sadiq could unlock new twists and multiply how the Panthers offense operates, scheming him and his teammates open.

Weaknesses

The main concerns with Sadiq are his blocking (due to “tweener” size), relative experience, and consistency translating his traits and strengths play-in and play-out. Blunt truth: Sadiq is small for an NFL tight end. At 6’3” (15% among TE’s), and 241 lbs. (9%) with 31.5” arms (7%), he is not going to overwhelm a defensive lineman with his size. Understand, he is not weak. He actually played in line 44% of the time and recorded a 68.7 career PFF Run Block Grade (65%) which is a favorable comparative mark to recent TE sensations Colston Loveland and Brock Bowers (not saying he is on the same level as them). However, he is obviously not a mammoth blocking TE and should not be used as one, at least too frequently.

As a player that translates more as a big slot or movable piece than he does as an inline blocker, he needs to be fit into a role that maximizes his strengths. To be clear, “blocking want-to” is not an issue. Sadiq plays hard, is strong, and seems to enjoy blocking, especially in the open when he can level a guy and look for another. He can be a tenacious blocker. There are just moments when he does not match up well against larger players (specifically in pass protection) and could use technique refinement. That limitation may give some teams pause in the first round.

With only 80 catches in college, he does not have the body of work that some top TE’s in other years did and despite a high catch rate, there do seem to be the occasional concentration-lapse, possibly from trying to turn and run just a moment too soon. While most of these weaknesses can improve with coaching and experience, especially issues of technique and focus, his size may limit how offenses can use him consistently.

Impact

Recognizing that I wrote way too much about need above, I want to qualify that it’s not just about a hole on the roster, it is more about the impact Sadiq can have on the offense. In an offense with a potentially budding star WR in McMillan and other pass catchers with potential, a potent RB pair in Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard and a mobile, progressing QB like Bryce Young, Sadiq could prove to be an offensive weapon that makes Carolina an incredibly tough matchup for defenses. His ability to find a hole in the zone or take a screen pass and churn out tough yards / generate YAC as well as his elite speed to create down field are special and require attention by defenses. They have to plan for him. He has the ability to produce yards and points or to simply preoccupy safeties and clog the middle when necessary to loosen up coverages for teammates on the edges.

Adding Kenyon Sadiq instantly makes the Carolina offense fun and competitive. The Panthers won the weak NFC South with an 8-9 record last year, taking it over Tampa Bay and Atlanta via tiebreakers. In a weak division, this team could become a consistent playoff team and potentially one that brings some joy to their fanbase, one that has not seen much success over the last decade. For me, Sadiq is a special talent and could be a piece that takes the Panthers’ offense to a new level.

*That was as TLDR as possible. Work sucked this week and I needed this. I hope it was enjoyable to read. Thanks.

2026 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Raiders (Mailata_in_a_Miata): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2) Jets (Dr.MidnightGreen): Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
3) Cardinals (grantspectations): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
4) Titans (DrBubbles): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5) Giants (ablesser88): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6) Browns (kjb304): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
7) Commanders (Jerry Robinson 56): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
8) Saints (VetStadiumSection358): David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9) Chiefs (Hoosinole): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10) Bengals (chuckelberryfinn): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11) Dolphins (phillyfan): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
12) Cowboys (ejdubya): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
13) Rams (All_Hail_Howie): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
14) Ravens (215T1LL1D1e): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
15) Buccaneers (pascofljoe): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
16) Jets (Euegene11): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17) Lions (BCHaas): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19) Panthers (jaynase): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20) Cowboys (Cravin’ LeBlanc)
21) Steelers (iam4theBirdz)
22) Chargers (Aint1stULast)
23) Eagles (Philly21)
24) Browns (FierceDisc65)
25) Bears (jazztafari)
26) Bills (PhillyTexan)
27) 49ers (granthill7)
28) Texans (CrackTheEaglesNut)
29) Chiefs (z)
30) Dolphins (Booth12)
31) Patriots (Niels Rosenquist)
32) Seahawks (J. Wil)

2026 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft

Now it’s YOUR TURN to vote for who you think should be selected with this pick.

1) Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza
2) Jets: EDGE Arvell Reese
3) Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa
4) Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love
5) Giants: LB Sonny Styles
6) Browns: WR Carnell Tate
7) Commanders: EDGE David Bailey
8) Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
9) Chiefs: S Caleb Downs
10) Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane
11) Dolphins: WR Jordyn Tyson
12) Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy
13) Rams: WR Makai Lemon
14) Ravens: OT Monroe Freeling
15) Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq
16) Jets: OG Olaivavega Ioane
17) Lions: OT Spencer Fano
18) Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman
19) Panthers: