The Carolina Panthers have not held a Zoom meeting with Kenyon Sadiq, a sign that the mock-draft buzz around the tight end may be running ahead of the team’s actual plans. Sports Illustrated reported the Panthers have not met with him virtually, even as his name keeps showing up in projections tied to Carolina.
That matters because the Panthers are not shopping blindly at the position. General manager Dan Morgan has already praised the tight ends on the roster and talked about finding value later in the draft, which points to a team that may not be eager to spend premium capital there. Kenyon Sadiq is still a popular fit in mock drafts, but the Panthers’ actions so far suggest interest that is more distant than many draft boards imply.
The numbers from 2025 help explain why the conversation has widened beyond one prospect. Sadiq posted a 73.8 PFF grade, which ranked 23rd among all tight ends. Eli Stowers graded out better at 81.6, seventh among tight ends, while Justin Joly posted a 77.7 grade that placed him 10th. Joly also drew a top-30 visit from Carolina and scored the fourth-most touchdowns in college football from the tight end position, giving the Panthers another name to weigh if they stay patient into the middle rounds.
That broader search has pushed Oscar Delp into the mix as well. Draft insider Jordan Reid said the Panthers seem to love Delp and reported that they are considering a second-round pick on him, a stronger signal than the one sent toward Sadiq so far. The difference matters because it hints at how Carolina may sort its board: not by mock-draft momentum, but by where each tight end actually fits the roster and the draft slot the team is willing to use.
For now, the clearest read on Carolina is that it likes options, not headlines. If the Panthers do make a move at tight end, the real clue may come before draft night, not from the mock drafts that keep linking Kenyon Sadiq to them. Related coverage: Philadelphia Eagles eye Kenyon Sadiq as first-round trade charts take shape and Eagles tight end plans could lead to Kenyon Sadiq in 2026 draft.
