Panthers balance sheet: Offense in the black after Baker Mayfield trade
By Dean Jones
Were the Carolina Panthers right to stand pat at TE?
Not having any meaningful production from the tight end position since Greg Olsen departed the Carolina Panthers is something else that’s had a detrimental impact on the offense. The former Pro Bowler was a trusted asset on and off the field, with Ian Thomas failing to meet the same expectations after he became the successor.
After offering almost nothing to the passing game once again in 2021, many believed Thomas would be shown the door when his contract expired this spring. Instead, the Panthers handed the former fourth-round pick a lucrative three-year deal to keep him around.
This had a lot to do with Ben McAdoo’s opinion, one suspects. It’s also worth remembering that Thomas has all the physical attributes to become a factor in the passing game and developed encouragingly as a blocker in recent months.
Whether he can take a monumental leap forward with McAdoo calling the plays remains to be seen. If not, then expect Carolina to focus their attention on Tommy Tremble, a second-year-pro who flashed offensive prowess in his first season with the organization.
Standing pat at the tight end spot was a big call to make. Bit if McAdoo works his magic on Thomas and Tremble, then it could see this positional group become more influential in 2022.