Panthers' Darren Waller move creates a devastating potential casualty

The Carolina Panthers caused a surprising stir by signing veteran tight end Darren Waller to a one-year deal. Just how much he'll be able to help is anyone's guess, but his imminent arrival will cause an inevitable ripple effect.

And it's starting to look like third-year pro Ja'Tavion Sanders might be the odd man out.

Although it's only the unofficial depth chart, alarm bells were ringing when Sanders was listed as TE3 behind Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans. Now that the Panthers have also acquired Waller, these concerns have risen exponentially.

Ja'Tavion Sanders could be Carolina Panthers' odd man out after Darren Waller signing

The Panthers were expecting a legitimate breakout campaign from Sanders last season. His rookie flashes dictated as much, but injuries and inconsistent on-field production saw him fall way short of initial projections despite Carolina winning the NFC South and returning to the postseason.

The former Texas standout was eager to make a better go of things this time around. Carolina gave him and every other tight end the benefit of the doubt, but those in power have now decided that a shake-up is needed with a few weeks left until the regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears.

Where that leaves Sanders is anyone's guess. The Panthers will probably take through four tight ends onto their roster, but Feleipe Franks is a valuable special-teams presence. The 2024 fourth-round pick will have to prove himself in this discipline to avoid getting cast aside.

It's a disappointment for Sanders; there's no getting away from that. However, it's also worth remembering that Waller is aging and probably nothing more than a short-term rental, so the door might not be closed fully on his aspirations in Carolina.

The Panthers don't easily give up on their draft picks. This might be a case of taking Sanders out of the firing line to continue his development. But it might also be a case of the coaching staff not trusting him enough after another quiet summer.

Morgan was not going to wait around forever. The decision has been made, and Waller's previous connection to Darrell Bevell from their time together on the Miami Dolphins last season was enough to tip the scales in his favor.

Sanders just has to roll up his sleeves, keep pushing to improve, and hope that'll be enough. Everything else is out of his hands, but the addition of Waller could impact him more than anyone else.

Considering how high optimism was around his outlook this time last year, it's a stark contrast. And even though all hope is not lost, it'll now take a monumental effort from Sanders to turn the tide.

Anything less, and he'll be on the fringes or off the roster entirely.

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