4 Carolina Panthers players who won’t be missed in 2021
By Dean Jones
Chris Manhertz – Carolina Panthers TE
Another player that has flattered to deceive this season is Chris Manhertz. Few expected the tight end to make any sort of impact in the passing game, but his lack of overall production has been a real disappointment.
The Carolina Panthers probably regret not bringing in another veteran presence at the position during the season. There were plenty of concerning signs regarding Manhertz and Ian Thomas’ production very early on and not having a reliable pass-catching presence across the middle has impacted Teddy Bridgewater in a negative way.
Every quarterback needs a solid tight end.
And the simple fact of the matter is that the Panthers don’t possess one at this juncture.
Manhertz has his uses, most notably from a blocking perspective. But even this has been lacking from his game in recent weeks and Carolina could probably find a better option despite the player’s popularity within the locker room.
He has caught six of eight targets in 2020 and has a modest 60.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, which tells us plenty about his underwhelming contribution during the campaign. The game has evolved so much at the tight end position in recent years that a player with Manhertz’s limited capabilities is now classed as a dying breed.