The Carolina Panthers should avoid selecting one particular player in the NFL Draft.
The Carolina Panthers have some very clear needs to address in the NFL Draft, and one of them is tight end.
It's looking more and more like the Panthers are ready to give up on Ja'Tavion Sanders, and they also don't appear to view Mitchell Evans as anything more than depth.
Carolina is being projected to nab Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in many mock drafts with the 19th overall pick, which is definitely a strong possibility.
But there is one tight end rising on draft boards who is starting to be linked to the Panthers on Day 2: Georgia's Oscar Delp.
Delp did not participate in the Scouting Combine due to a hairline foot fracture he suffered during the regular season, but he put forth an incredibly strong performance at his Pro Day, which has some scouts salivating over his potential.
There is no doubt that Delp is athletic and is an intriguing prospect, but would he really be worth a second-round pick for Carolina? Especially when the Panthers can just take Sadiq on Day 1 and with Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers also an option?
Oscar Delp. Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Here's the issue with Delp: he hasn't been all that productive.
The 22-year-old arrived at Georgia in 2022 and began receiving legitimate playing time as soon as his second season, when he caught 24 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. That ended up being his most productive collegiate campaign.
Delp posted yardage totals in the 200-yard range in each of his last three seasons, which isn't exactly what you want from your starting tight end.
Yes, it's possible that Delp's game will translate well into the pros. We have seen players with spotty production on the NCAA level put up much better numbers in the NFL. But we've also seen workout warriors largely fail, as well.
You might be able to place Delp into that category: a player who is incredibly athletic but has historically posted less than stellar production.
Is that risk really worth it for a Panthers squad that is just starting to establish itself as a potential NFC contender?
If Carolina really wants a tight end, Sadiq or Stowers should be the choice. Let another team that the risk on Delp.
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