The Carolina Panthers are coming off their best season in years, and fans have every reason to scourge the web for a mock draft that would help the team take the next step in 2026. Optimism is high for this organization, as Bryce Young continues to improve, Tetairoa McMillan looks like a great player, and the team added several quality free agents at the start of the league year. However, the right draft pick can make or break an organization, and Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports believes the Panthers should add more firepower to their offense.
In a recent article, Dajani has the Panthers selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the 19th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sadiq is one of the most athletic players in the draft and should be a welcome addition to this offense if this prediction comes to light.
“Carolina has taken some small swings at the position with Ja’Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans, but those guys are not the versatile pass-catcher that Sadiq is,” Dajani writes. “His eight receiving touchdowns ranked first among all FBS tight ends last season, while his 51 receptions ranked fifth.”
Panthers Select TE Kenyon Sadiq In Latest Mock Draft
An elite tight end can be one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in football, and Kenyon Sadiq has that in his range of outcomes. Blessed with elite physical gifts, the Oregon product runs a complete route tree and can do a little bit of everything as a receiver. He has the speed to blow past linebackers, the size to outmuscle safeties at the point of attack, and the stamina to pick up yards after the catch and break tackles.
Historically speaking, tight ends struggle to adjust to the NFL and usually need a season or two before they can consistently contribute. However, players like Brock Bowers and Harold Fannin Jr have immediately made positive impacts for their team, so there is a recent precedent for quick results. The NFL game is getting more and more similar to college by the year, so perhaps Carolina can expect fast contributions from Sadiq.
Fit on the Depth Chart
Carolina has a small army of adequate role players at the tight end position, but nobody who’s anything more than a low-end starter. While Mitchell Evans, Tommy Tremble, and Ja’Tavion Sanders all have had their moments, their strengths aren’t strong enough to justify a full-time role, and they’re not well-rounded enough to be a jack of all trades, master of none. If this mock draft is correct, the Panthers could immediately put Kenyon Sadiq in as the top tight end on the depth chart.
Bryce Young continues to improve on a year-by-year basis, but he’s not the type of quarterback who can succeed regardless of environment. Carolina built a solid offensive line and receiving core, and Sadiq could be the missing piece for this offense. With three reliable pass-catchers in Sadiq, McMillan, and Jalen Coker, Young should be able to lead an above-average passing attack.
