The Carolina Panthers have been slowly learning which type of players to surround starting quarterback Bryce Young with, and the progress he's making speaks for itself.
During Young's rookie season, the Panthers tried to lean on numerous skill players to let the No. 1 pick spread the ball around, but it failed miserably because the talent was inconsistent and unwatchable at times. Establishing a run game was successful in his sophomore campaign, with a breakout campaign from Chuba Hubbard and the emergence of young talents such as wide receiver Jalen Coker.
Last year, the Panthers drafted Tetairoa McMillan, who became Young's No. 1 wide receiver and the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Most of the baseline requirements are in place for the fourth-year starter.
Carolina Panthers could change the offensive dynamic by pairing Kenyon Sadiq with Bryce Young
One position group has lacked consistency. That could change for Young and the Panthers if they select the top tight end in this year's NFL Draft.
Oregon Ducks star Kenyon Sadiq has been among the many prospects rumored to be under consideration for Carolina at No. 19 overall. He is the consensus top prospect at his position in the class, but there are questions as to whether he is the type of tight end to select inside the top-20 or wait until later in the draft to take one with more proper value.
The discussion here, though, is not about positional value. Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Ja'Tavion Sanders have not proven enough to be considered viable or reliable options overall, though Evans could grow into a quality No. 2 tight end on the roster.
Sadiq opens the door to many opportunities. He can attack different portions of the field that were either inaccessible or unreliable for Carolina. While he doesn't have elite size, the All-American tight end is an explosive athlete with great hands, tracking ability, body control at the catch point, and the skill set to create after the catch.
The four-star recruit out of Skyline High School has shown to be a reliable option on seam shots and showcases some impressive quickness and shiftiness as a route runner, including on in-breakers that work to the middle of the field. This would greatly improve Young's frequency of attacking this area.
You can do a lot with Sadiq, such as working him in as an in-line blocker, a move blocker, or a big slot, giving offensive coordinator Brad Idzik different ways to deploy personnel and utilize talent to create mismatches. The prospect can also be a reliable blocker in pass protection, which adds another valuable piece to the puzzle.
If reached, Sadiq's ceiling is exciting as a potential high-end player at tight end. This would give the Panthers' offense the missing piece they need to allow Young to thrive next season while earning himself a new contract extension in the process.