The Carolina Panthers’ hopes are looking up heading into 2025 after Bryce Young led the team to a strong finish. Young potentially saved his career after being benched following Week 2, and the Panthers won two of their last three games.
Carolina looked like a different team once Young was re-inserted as the starter, and one analyst thinks both the team and Young can take the next step in 2025 if the Panthers can pull off a trade for a three-time Pro Bowl tight end.
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Young approached “bust” territory after a 2-14 rookie season and two poor showings to start 2024. Dave Canales boldly lifted Young for Andy Dalton, but the second-year quarterback was thrust back into the starting lineup after Dalton was involved in a car accident.
After returning, Young put together an impressive final 11 starts and finished No. 28 in PFSN’s QB+ metric. However, it wasn’t all great for him as he converted just 31.8% of third downs (33rd), had a 5.8 nYPA (34th), and a 1.7 touchdown-to-interception ratio (23rd). He completed just 60.9% of his passes (35th) and averaged 171.6 passing yards per game (35th).
Panthers brought Young help by drafting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and tight end Mitchell Evans in the first and fifth rounds, respectively. With second-year WR Xavier Legette in the receiver room as well, Carolina’s passing game should see improvement in 2025.
However, to help Young grow further, PFSN’s Brandon Austin wants the Panthers to trade for the Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. Carolina hasn’t found a long-term answer at the tight end position since letting Greg Olsen walk following the 2019 season, and adding a reliable yet dynamic threat like Andrews should be an instant upgrade.
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“Mark Andrews and Lamar Jackson entered the league together in 2018 and quickly developed chemistry,” Austin wrote. “Andrews has been a go-to guy for the two-time MVP, but last season, his 19.4% target share and 1.89 yards per route run were both career lows.
“The Ravens may now be weighing whether Isaiah Likely is ready to step up. If so, trading Andrews to an NFC team like the Carolina Panthers could make sense. The Panthers didn’t get much production from their tight ends last year. Ja’Tavion Sanders and Tommy Tremble combined for just 576 yards and three touchdowns.
“Carolina added Mitchell Evans from Notre Dame in the draft, but adding a proven veteran like Andrews could help Bryce Young continue to grow. Young showed toughness and improvement after getting benched in 2024. If the Panthers want to help him take the next step, they need more pieces around him.”
Andrews has been among the best tight ends in the NFL since the Ravens selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. While he has already set the franchise record for most career touchdowns, along with several other records, he became the target of the fan base during Baltimore’s latest postseason run when he failed to make a crucial 2-point conversion that would have tied the game.
The Ravens have two Top 10 TEs 😈 pic.twitter.com/Z5H3wfwcQq
— PFF (@PFF) June 2, 2025
The criticism, coupled with the drop in Andrews’ production, sparked trade rumors. The 29-year-old is set to enter the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract extension that he signed prior to the 2021 season. The Ravens could gain $11 million in cap space by parting with the three-time Pro Bowler, and with Likely on the roster as a potential replacement, a trade remains possible.