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.
Cole Kmet – (Notre Dame)
Cole Kmet boasts hands that defy his size and he is good at creating space for himself in tight situations. He is similar to Greg Olsen in that sense and would be a ready-made replacement for the departed player with the Carolina Panthers.
Kmet’s aggression is one of the standout features of his game and he plays every down with infectious enthusiasm that drives others around him. One thing he will have to improve on is his ability to prevent defensive ends and linebackers from getting to his quarterback without help.
This will help his overall efficiency as there is potential there for him to be a good blocker at the next level. It will be up to Matt Rhule and the offensive staff in Carolina to make sure he is not on an island if he ends up with the franchise.
Kmet also needs to get better catching off his chest and securing the ball efficiently under pressure. There is a lot to like about his potential to thrive in Rhule’s system. But expecting him to be a plug-and-play starter right away might be asking too much.
That being said, there is nothing to suggest Kmet isn’t going to have a successful NFL career in the coming years. He is projected to be a second-round selection and it remains to be seen whether this puts him on the Panthers’ radar with so many more pressing needs elsewhere.
Stephen Sullivan – (LSU)
Stephen Sullivan was part of the LSU Tigers’ team that secured a National Championship during his final college season. He is definitely a work in progress and one that is worth considering in the later rounds.
Sullivan projects to be a late-round selection with some upside as a pass-catching tight end. He is going to have to work on his physicality if the player wants his time in the NFL to be prolonged.
He has good hands and demonstrates the sort of athleticism that is sure to make him an enticing proposition for any team that takes him in the upcoming draft. Sullivan is the sort of project that NFL coaches love working with.
If the player can improve his ability to make catches under pressure, then this is going to further aid him with his transition to the NFL. Another area of his game that needs refinement is his route running, which fails to create separation on a consistent basis.
Although it would be foolish for the Carolina Panthers to expect instant production from Sullivan. Having the player sit and learn what it takes to be an NFL tight end while Ian Thomas is giving the opportunity to make the No.1 spot his own would be great for his long-term development.
With a little coaching up and some experience in specialist situations, Sullivan is a player definitely worth considering.
Dalton Keene – (Virginia Tech)
Dalton Keene is an ultra-competitive individual who is gained a lot of buzz heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. The tight end possesses a tremendous amount of versatility and his skill set is almost guaranteed to make a strong transition to the pros.
The Virginia Tech standout has plenty going for him and is coming off a strong 2019 campaign. Keene’s final year in the college system saw the player secure 21 receptions, 241 yards and five touchdowns on an 11.5 yards-per-catch average.
While those statistics do not jump out, Keene is much more than just a pass-catching tight end and is a very good blocker. He thrives in a lead role at the second level and is equally adept at pass protecting when the occasion fits.
This is seen as a dying characteristic in NFL tight ends. But Keene’s character and high engine are sure to make him an enticing proposition for any team after the third round.
There are some areas of his game that need improvement. Keene is a very limited route runner at the present time and will need to increase his repertoire to become a prominent passing threat at the next level.
He fits well into the Carolina Panthers’ run-first offense that goes through All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. Keene is a dominant blocking force on the run, and this could aid the running back considerably.
Harrison Bryant – (Florida Atlantic)
What Harrison Bryant lacks in blocking ability, he more than makes up for in the passing game. The player enjoyed a phenomenal final season at Florida Atlantic and is projected to be a mid-round NFL Draft selection later this month.
Any team that selects Bryant is not going to get much out of the player on the line of scrimmage, at least not initially. But he has a superb presence on intermediate passing downs and is a big red zone target.
Bryant recorded 1,004 receiving yards from 65 receptions in 2019. This also included seven touchdowns and a yards-per-catch average of 15.7.
The player ended his college career with 2,137 career receiving yards, 148 receptions, and 16 touchdowns. He possesses good hand-eye coordination and has the football IQ to get him away from opposing defenders with sharp route-running ability.
Bryant’s body control is another standout feature of his game. But asking him to do too much right away could have a detrimental effect on his long-term chances of making a go of things at the next level.
Given more time to develop and polish aspects of his game, Bryant could be a very good player in the pros. The Carolina Panthers are not necessarily in desperate need of tight end help right away thanks to the presence of Ian Thompson. But this will change if the player cannot live up to expectations.
Brycen Hopkins – (Purdue)
Brycen Hopkins is an extremely talented route runner that is one of the more enticing tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft. He comes from a football family and although he was a late starter, the player has picked the intangibles of the game very well during his time in college.
Hopkins was a solid contributor at Purdue during his college career and took his game to another level in 2019. The prospect hauled in 61 catches for 830 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season and displayed the sort of moves that NFL scouts are sure to be salivating over.
He has great instincts and has a great nous of locating the ball under pressure. He is not afraid to mix it physically with opposing defenders in the passing game and uses his frame well to make plays.
The prospect does need some work in the blocking aspect of playing tight end. These deficiencies will be exposed more frequently in the NFL and it would be prudent for Hopkins to spend considerable time on his footwork and hand placement in this particular area of his game.
If he can work out how to be effective from an every-down perspective, then someone is going to have a real player on their hands.
Hopkins has made fantastic strides with every passing year in college and there is no reason to suspect this is not going to continue when he gets to the NFL.