July 2, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET

Not since 2019 has a Carolina Panthers tight end recorded at least 500 receiving yards in a single season. In fact, the last guy to do it is already well into his next career as a multi-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster. (Props, Greg.)

Of course, that type of drought will have many folks linking Carolina to various solutions at the position. But is it reasonable to assume that the Panthers are even looking for something new?

Based off their last few offseasons, perhaps not . . . at least on a large scale. Under general manager Dan Morgan, the front office has made just three notable moves at the spot—re-signing Tommy Tremble and using Day 3 picks on Ja’Tavion Sanders (2024) and Mitchell Evans (2025).

Even still, while the team itself will tell you that they’re content with the room, fans are clamoring for more. So, let’s try to give you something . . . to a reasonable degree.

Here are a handful of (possibly realistic) additions the Panthers could make at tight end:

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.4. Michael Mayer

There has been a plethora of posts over the last few months connecting Chicago’s Cole Kmet to Carolina. But the Bears just restructured Kmet’s deal, making it rather difficult to trade him at this point.

Instead, it’s his fellow Notre Dame product in Mayer who seems at least a tad more sensible.

The former All-American has yet to produce in the NFL like he did in college, where he posted 1,649 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns over his final two seasons with the Fighting Irish. That trend will probably continue in Las Vegas with All-Pro Brock Bowers as the primary target.

First-year head coach Klint Kubiak may still value Mayer in multi-tight end sets, which he ran quite a bit in Seattle. But if the Raiders are looking to move on, the Panthers could be a buyer.

3. Sam LaPorta

Perhaps surprisingly, LaPorta’s name popped up in a new set of predictions by ESPN’s Ben Solak. Solak forecasted a trade of the 2023 second-team All-Pro, sending him to Carolina to set up some cap flexibility for Detroit.

The Lions will be looking to lock up a number of their key contributors. They just secured linebacker Jack Campbell on a four-year, $81 million deal and running back Jahmyr Gibbs is probably next.

LaPorta is coming off a concerning back injury that sidelined him for the second half of 2025. Detroit might be looking to sell before LaPorta’s stock plummets.

2. Darren Waller

Now onto the free-agent portion of these proceedings.

If a trade is out of the question, then maybe scooping up a veteran off the street is more palatable for Morgan and the Panthers. And if that’s the case, then Waller could be an intriguing option.

He’s obviously a far cry from his Pro Bowl days back in 2020, but Waller flashed as a capable playmaker for the Miami Dolphins in 2025. His best outing might’ve actually come against the Panthers, as he registered a season-high 78 yards and a score off five catches at Bank of America Stadium in Week 5.

He’ll be 34 years old in mid-September.

1. Jonnu Smith

Smith, also a free agent, feels like the most rational fit.

Few tight ends in the NFL are better with the ball in their hands, as 68.4-percent of Smith’s career receiving numbers have come after the catch. YAC hasn’t been a strong suit in the Panthers offense for some time, and those skills would undoubtedly make life easier on quarterback Bryce Young.

Like Waller, Smith put up noteworthy stats in Miami. In 2024, he amassed 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns.

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