5 AFC East free agents the Panthers could target in 2021
By Dean Jones
Tyler Kroft – TE
- 2020 team – Buffalo Bills
It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers struggled to get any sort of meaningful production from their tight ends in 2020. Letting Greg Olsen leave was a mistake in hindsight and the lack of involvement from Ian Thomas in the passing game leaves little cause for encouragement that he can make the No. 1 position his own moving forward.
There will be an opportunity to address this need in the 2021 NFL Draft. But it would be worth the Panthers also exploring the free-agent market for a proven veteran who can step in and make an immediate contribution.
Someone with the pass-catching reputation of Tyler Kroft would be worth a shot. The former third-round pick was used as a role player on the Buffalo Bills before injuries once again took their toll – bringing in 75 percent of his targets for 119 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Kroft has been unfortunate on the injury front during his career. He suffered a broken foot with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019 when the player was starting to build some real momentum. But providing he proves himself from a fitness standpoint, there are far worse avenues Carolina could go down to improve.
The veteran would bring an assured presence across the middle, in addition to a big target in the red zone who can catch well under pressure. This would benefit whoever was under center enormously and had Teddy Bridgewater been afforded the same luxury, the Panthers might not be looking for a replacement this offseason.