Carolina Panthers linked to free agent weapon who checks every box general manager Dan Morgan previously laid out
The Carolina Panthers opted out of adding any tight end to the offense this offseason and one free agent still remains on the market that could fit Dan Morgan’s desired option.
The Carolina Panthers had another strong offseason under general manager Dan Morgan but the one position the team continued to ignore was the tight end position after not making a single addition to the room.
In free agency, the Panthers were linked numerous times to the top options on the market such as David Njoku, Isaiah Likely, and Chigoziem Okonkwo and watched as all of them signed with other teams.
In the draft, the Panthers were routinely mocked to draft Kenyon Sadiq in the first-round but missed out on the chance to even consider him an option with the 19th overall pick and decided not to go after one of the mid-later round prospects.
As things stand, the tight end room in Carolina remains the same and general manager Dan Morgan seems content with that unless an option can bring something new and different to the room.
“We have a lot of confidence in the guys that are on our roster,” Morgan explained. “I said that before [the draft]. . . We have some guys that we’re excited about. We’ll always look for avenues to make the roster better, if we feel like we need to figure out tight end and bring a different skillset in, then we’ll do that. But, right now, we feel good about it.”
ESPN links Jonnu Smith to the Carolina Panthers – why he actually might be a TE the team considers
Looking back at that quote from Morgan, the “bring a different skillset in” part sticks out. Dave Canales used multiple TEs throughout the 2025 season (Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Mitchell Evans mainly) and they were all different players.
The Panthers passing on Njoku proved the team doesn’t want to add a top player that can do it all. The staff likes to mix-n-match at that position and one free agent recently linked to the team can offer a skillset the Panthers are lacking.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen listed veteran tight end Jonnu Smith as the best free agent fit for the Panthers and the logic makes perfect sense.
“Smith would give the Panthers a move — or “F” — tight end who can create schematic advantages due to his alignment versatility. He can flex outside in 12 personnel, while getting targets on unders and screens,” Bowen wrote. “Wherever he lines up, Smith can be a reliable catch-and-run target for quarterback Bryce Young. Smith had 38 receptions in Pittsburgh last season, and 68.4% of his career receiving totals have come after the catch.”
Throughout his career working with Arthur Smith and Mike McDaniel, Smith excelled in short routes and after the catch. In 2025, Smith had 20 receptions on passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage (T-3rd most among TEs) with 123 yards after the catch. In 2024, those numbers were 24 (1st) and 240 (1st).
Last year, Carolina had 20 receptions from the entire TE room on such passes with 125 yards after the catch. The season before, those numbers were 17 receptions and 117 yards after catch.
If the Panthers want to appease the fanbase and finally add an upgrade to the TE room, Smith makes the most logical sense as a player that can bring in a new skillset.