Panthers May be Forced to Admit Grim Reality With Freakish Weapon

Back in 2024, the Carolina Panthers selected one of the most intriguing prospects in the NFL Draft, landing Texas Longhorns tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders.

There was a whole lot to like about Sanders at the time.

He stood 6-foot-5 and weighed 250 pounds, possessed tremendous athleticism and was coming off of two incredibly productive collegiate campaigns in the Big 12.

Many felt the Panthers may have found their tight end of the future, and in the early stages of Sanders' rookie season, that appeared to be the case.

During the first half of 2024, Sanders put together some impressive performances and was becoming a crucial part of Carolina's offense. Then, in late November, Sanders suffered a scary neck injury that upended his debut campaign.

Between Weeks 13 and 18, Sanders amassed a grand total of four catches, and he hasn't really recovered since.

The 22-year-old managed just 29 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown in 2025 before ultimately suffering a broken ankle in Week 17, an injury that would ultimately require surgery. He averaged just 6.6 yards per catch, and now, the Panthers are in the market for a tight end this offseason.

As much as I like Sanders, it may very well be time for Carolina to admit a grim reality when it comes to the Killeen, Tx. native: he has entered bust territory.

Now, to be fair, the Panthers selected Sanders in the fourth round of the draft, so it's not like they used a first-round pick on the youngster. But given the expectations that were placed upon his shoulders, he has been a massive disappointment.

And honestly, it's not all his fault. Let's face it: Bryce Young has not exactly been a consistent presence under center, and Sanders' injuries haven't helped, either. So perhaps Sanders would actually break out somewhere else.

The problem is that Sanders still has two years left on his rookie contract, and his trade value is next to nothing at the moment.

There would surely be some teams interested in Sanders given his physical tools and raw talent, but production matters, and the former Longhorns star has not yet shown that he can regularly be productive on the NFL level.

It might be time for Carolina to accept that Sanders may not be the future at tight end. That means going back to the drawing board at the position.

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