The Carolina Panthers have been connected to a freakish 6-foot-7 playmaker.
The Carolina Panthers only selected one playmaker in the 2026 NFL Draft, nabbing Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell in the third round.
Many expected the Panthers to take a tight end at some point, with Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq widely considered a great fit for them at No. 19, but they decided to go in an entirely different direction.
That could mean Carolina is giving youngsters like Ja'Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans another chance to prove themselves in 2026, or it could simply signify that the Panthers wanted to address another needs first.
Whatever the case may be, tight end will remain an area of need for Carolina until Sanders or Evans (or whoever else) prove otherwise, so it should come as no surprise that the Panthers are already being linked to tight ends in next year's NFL Draft.
In fact, Cooper Petagna of CBS Sports has Carolina taking one in the first round next April, projecting the Panthers to select LSU star Trey'Dez Green with the ninth overall pick of the 2027 draft.
LSU Tigers tight end Trey'Dez Green. Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images."A former two-sport athlete who once moonlighted on the hardwood for the Tigers, the 6-foot-7 Green has emerged as one of college football's most unique pass-catching talents," Petagna wrote. "While he doesn't lack the toughness to play in-line, he does his best work as a receiver, aligning outside and in the slot while stressing defenses with his size and athleticism, particularly in the red zone."
Green's size alone obviously makes him a compelling prospect, but his freakish athleticism puts him over the top.
The Jackson, La. native arrived at LSU in 2024 and logged 13 catches for 101 yards and four touchdowns during his freshman campaign, presenting the Tigers with a terrific red-zone option right off the bat.
Then, this past season, Green's role expanded and he hauled in 33 receptions for 433 yards and seven scores, averaging a healthy 13.1 yards per catch.
Green is already viewed as one of the top tight ends in the 2027 class, with Oregon's Jamari Johnson seemingly the favorite right now.
But for as impressive as Johnson looked in 2025, it's hard to ignore Green's unique blend of size and athleticism.
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