The Carolina Panthers had a successful 2025 season by almost any measure. 

The team won the NFC South and got to host the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs. The Panthers ultimately lost to the Rams, but it was a competitive game against one of the league’s best teams. 

Now, the Panthers need to build on that momentum and stay a relevant force in the NFC. If that’s going to happen, though, the team will have to improve the supporting cast around quarterback Bryce Young. 

Tetairoa McMillan starred as a rookie, leading the team in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. However, there’s not much to be excited about behind McMillan, and that needs to change before the season starts. 

Garrett Podell of CBS Sports recently identified the best landing spots for the top remaining free agents. For tight end David Njoku, Podell identified the Panthers as a logical landing spot. 

Regarding the Panthers and Njoku, Podell offered the following: 

The Carolina Panthers make the most sense for Njoku: the defending NFC South champions need more of a receiving threat out of their tight end spot than Tommy Tremble has put on tape. He could really open up the middle of the field for quarterback Bryce Young. 

As Podell mentioned, Njoku would clearly be the TE1 in Carolina and take over the starting job from Tommy Tremble. 

In 2025, Tremble caught 27 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers are fine for a TE2, not an every-down player. Njoku has been a difference-maker in the past and could be a reliable safety blanket for Young. 

In 2025, Njoku played in 12 games and caught 33 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns. One thing to keep in mind is that Njoku had arguably the worst quarterback play in the league, so it’s impressive he was even able to do what he did. 

Njoku’s best season came in 2023 when he made his first and only Pro Bowl appearance. That year, the veteran caught 81 passes for 882 yards and six touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to be a top target. 

Njoku has so far spent his entire career in Cleveland, so he may be excited to play for a team that just won their division. A pass-catcher trio of McMillan, Njoku, and Xavier Legette/Jalen Coker would certainly be the best group Young has had in the NFL. 

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