The Tight End question

[Mr. Scot]

From Mike Kaye...

Daniel Jeremiah thinks the depth of this year's rookie TE class might make teams less likely to spend big money on a veteran guy, which at least conceivably could make veteran TE prices go down.

If you're hoping to see a new tight end option join the Panthers offense this year, would you rather wait and try to pick up a vet cheap down the road or just go ahead and look into that deep rookie class and find your guy there?

[Wundrbread33]

Unless Tremble has turned a corner, or Ricci (who can actually get open and catch) gets more burn…then yes. 
 

FA and draft one. 

[stan786]

I'm open to both aspects, Rookie TEs notoriously are finicky with first year production so I would imagine drafting and signing one could be in play. 

[TheCasillas]

Id go cheap vet... It seems like its the best move for many franchises.  Not many Tight ends make it to their second contract with the team that drafted them. If you can get one that already knows the league and hs proven their mettle, then signing cheap is the way to go. 

[NanuqoftheNorth]

The most for the least is the correct answer.

The Panthers most productive TEs in the team's history weren't drafted by them.

Just sayin'

[Byrdman4real]

A TE is most definitely needed, they play large roles on competitive teams. Panthers most definitely should take one in the draft. It is plenty in the draft that's better than Tremble who I consider a number 2 not a number 1 TE. 

Edited February 24, 2023 by Byrdman4real

[SmokinwithWilly]

If the top QBs that we are really interested in are gone by our pick (barring a trade up), I wouldn't mind a trade back to acquire an extra second if possible, grab a top TE prospect and a highly ranked WR. Later in the draft, I wouldn't mind grabbing a 2nd TE like Schoonmaker if he's available in later rounds. Any QB we have is going to need that safety net. Tremble was always a receiving project, and Thomas is well, Thomas. I realize we have several needs and getting 2 TE's might be a bit much, but we have missed Greg since he retired and having that Kelce, Olson, Gronk type weapon(s) has shown to be a very big part of the best NFL offenses. At one point, the Gronk/Hernandez duo terrorized the AFC. I'm not saying we should try to repeat that necessarily, just pointing out that having 2 legitimate threats at TE could be quite beneficial for a young QB. 

[ThPantherFan]

56 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

rather wait and try to pick up a vet cheap down the road

This is what I prefer.  

[GOAT]

[CarolinaRideorDie]

I think it depends more on the staff and how they use the TEs. Ian Thomas has been through 2 regimes and hasn't shown anything, he sucks. Tremble I think has potential and would like to see how he is used with this staff, scouting reports compared him to a poor mans Kittle. Good quality TE's don't make it to free agency, look at the history of TE's who signed with new teams, they hardly live up to their contract.  

Of 32 NFL teams, only Kelce and Kittle are the top tier players, it's hard to find a legit TE. 

[jayboogieman]

Depends on how much money the team can free up for free agency. It's probably best(cheapest) to use one of the second round picks on one of the top TEs in the draft though.

[JawnyBlaze]

Sign one and draft one in the second. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Mid-level vet and still have TE on the draft board. That Ian Thomas contract was such a colossal mistake. He should honestly be a post-June 1st cut. Trimble is fine as a #3 TE on a cheap rookie contract. 

[ForJimmy]

Gesicki and draft one with one of our 2s