Carolina Panthers: 5 tight end draft prospects that could replace Olsen

The Carolina Panthers will need to look for tight end Greg Olsen’s long-term replacement in the 2020 NFL Draft, and there are plenty of names worth considering.

One of the biggest success stories for the Carolina Panthers’ offense in recent years was the production of tight end Greg Olsen. He was widely regarded as one of the most reliable players at the position and he formed a superb bond with quarterback Cam Newton.

Both are no longer with the franchise after Olsen was released and subsequently signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers are expecting Ian Thomas to take a big leap forward in 2020. But a rookie replacement must also be considered by the franchise if this doesn’t pan out.

There is no tight end entering this year from college with real first-round potential. However, that does not mean there isn’t some value at the position in the mid-to-late rounds.

The Panthers only have eight picks before draft night, so they will need to be careful about which positions they strengthen. Their overall depth has improved since the start of free agency. But more is going to be needed if they want to be competitive next term.

Any incoming recruit will need to get up to speed with Matt Rhule’s new offense quickly to give them the best possible chances of success. Here are five players that might be worth a prominent look later this month.