Panthers Linked to 34-TD Weapon for QB Bryce Young

The Carolina Panthers are all-in on building a competitive roster around former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young.

This offseason, the team signed running backs Travis Etienne (four years, $52 million) and A.J. Dillon (one year, $1.4 million) plus wide receiver John Metchie (one year, $1.9 million), and they drafted receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft.

And though they've addressed two key skill positions, there's one that still needs to be addressed: tight end.

Carolina got just 78 catches, 638 yards, and five touchdowns combined from four tight ends - Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans, and James Mitchell - last season, which is why Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports thinks the Panthers should make an aggressive push for former Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku.

"One of the popular pairings in mock drafts was the Panthers taking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq," Sullivan wrote. "However, he was snatched up by the New York Jets three picks before they were on the clock at No. 19 overall and then pivoted to offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. While that mocked selection didn’t come to fruition, the logic behind it was sound and still stands.

"At the moment, Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders make up the top of the Panthers tight end depth chart. Carolina could use a pass-catching tight end for Bryce Young, and Njoku makes a lot of sense as the answer to that need. Knee injuries limited Njoku’s final season with the Browns in 2025, but, so long as he’s healthy, he is still talented enough to help keep Carolina’s moving on hits upward trajectory."

Njoku, a former Pro Bowler, had a down year in 2025 while getting passed up by rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr.

The 29-year-old Njoku has totaled 384 receptions, 4,062 yards, and 34 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Browns. His best season came back in 2023 when he put up 81 catches on 123 targets, 882 yards, and six touchdowns - all career highs.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM.