5 easy decisions the Carolina Panthers must make in 2022 free agency
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers should end the Ian Thomas experiment
One player that faces an uncertain future with the Carolina Panthers this offseason is Ian Thomas. The former fourth-round pick has steadily become anonymous in the passing game over the last two years, which is not what many anticipated when the team opted to let prolific Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen leave in 2020 free agency to sign for the Seattle Seahawks.
This was the big starting chance Thomas had been waiting for. And he certainly looked the part filling for an injured Olsen during his rookie campaign.
Since then, it’s been largely disappointing. Thomas accumulated just 21 receptions from 61 targets in the two years after Olsen’s departure, resulting in 333 receiving yards and one touchdown.
It hasn’t been all bad for Thomas, who improved the blocking aspect of playing the tight end position encouragingly. But with big things expected of Tommy Tremble moving forward, the Panthers might decide this is the time to end their relationship with the Indiana product.
Although things haven’t quite worked out for Thomas in Carolina, the player has enough in the way of talent to get another opportunity and even thrive elsewhere. However, not giving the former fourth-round pick an extension should be an easy decision when it comes to the crunch.