With the Carolina Panthers set to report to training camp this week, it’s time to take a look at the lay of the land.
Which players are sure to make it through the summer and onto the team’s initial 53-man roster? Are there any wild-card candidates who can leave a lasting impression in the coming weeks? And which battles are worth keeping an eye on?
Here is our training camp preview for the Panthers’ tight end position:
Locks
- Tommy Tremble
- Ja’Tavion Sanders
Tremble returned on a two-year deal this spring. But don’t expect much from his this summer, as he’ll be on the road to recovery from offseason back surgery.
With Tremble working his way back, Sanders is the favorite to rack up starting reps. The 2024 fourth-round pick was solid at times as a rookie, reeling in 33 catches for 342 yards and a touchdown.
Likely to make it
- Mitchell Evans
From one Day 3 tight end to another, Evans was taken by the Panthers in the fifth round of this year’s draft.
Could the 6-foot-5, 258-pounder be the latest Notre Dame tight end to succeed in the NFL? Well, he showed some promise at South Bend—having totaled 77 receptions for 903 yards and five touchdowns over a four-year tenure.
On the bubble
- Dominique Dafney
- James Mitchell
- Bryce Pierre
Dafney and Mitchell signed reserve/future contracts with the Panthers in January. Dafney spent the final month of the 2024 campaign as a member of the team’s practice squad.
Pierre was added in the spring as an undrafted free-agent signee out of UCLA.
Battle to watch
- Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. Mitchell Evans
Sanders and Evans will be the top two tight ends in Tremble’s absence. And don’t overlook the rookie, who already impressed head coach Dave Canales during spring workouts.
Potential sleeper
- Dominique Dafney
It’s still too early to tell, but there may be a chance that Tremble begins the regular season on the physically unable to perform list. If that’s the case, Dafney could squeeze in as the No. 3 tight end behind Sanders and Evans.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers training camp preview: Young TEs will have to step up