Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq could be a vital part of quarterback Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers’ mission to reach new heights in 2026. The Panthers maintained a steady enough pace to clinch the NFC South in 2025, finishing 8-9 in a division where every team posted the same record.
While head coach Dave Canales extracted respectable performances from the offense, the team’s lack of firepower was quickly exposed in the playoffs, as the team lost 34-31 to the Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend.
Kenyon Sadiq Could Add Firepower to Bryce Young’s Supporting Cast
The Panthers were one of the surprise teams in 2025, contending for the division title for the first time in years. However, while rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan recorded a 1,000-yard campaign, Canales and company did not have much else to show on the perimeter.
Running back Chuba Hubbard provided a significant portion of the production with 1,232 yards from scrimmage. The newly acquired Jaelan Phillips and Rasheed Walker will look to support the roster as the team shifts focus to 2026 following the departure of several free agents.
The Panthers especially struggled to produce at tight end, as Tommy Tremble fell short of the 250-yard mark on the season. As such, ESPN’s Field Yates believes the front office should pursue Sadiq from Oregon.
“Sadiq would add an element of explosive run-after-catch ability for Carolina, which needs another dynamic option next to wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan,” Yates wrote. “Sadiq had to bide his time at Oregon playing behind current Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson, but he led all FBS tight ends in receiving touchdowns in 2025 (eight). He more than holds his own as a blocker, too.”
Sadiq was a key cog in head coach Dan Lanning’s system last season, catching 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Throughout this recent run of first-round picks at tight end, Sadiq separates himself with elite athleticism,” Yates wrote. “At the combine, he posted a 4.39-second 40-yard dash (tight end record), 43.5-inch vertical jump, and 133-inch broad jump.”
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The tight end would create an ideal duo out wide with McMillan. Young flashed his potential under center in 2025, and adding another weapon to his receiving corps could help the Panthers become consistent playoff contenders.
PFSN is also high on Sadiq’s stock as the best tight end in this class, giving him an 82.2 rating in its TE Impact Metric:
“At the catch point, Sadiq’s body control is a sight to behold, and he has the composure to hold strong in contact situations. Moreover, Sadiq’s explosiveness and contact balance mix well in the RAC phase, and he’s an extremely impressive blocker for his size, with a high degree of natural leverage, range, physicality, and alignment versatility.”
It will be interesting to see whether the Panthers seizes this opportunity to reinforce its receiving corps.
