The Carolina Panthers, under a new regime, are ready to make life easier for former first-overall pick and quarterback Bryce Young. On Thursday, during the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, new president of football operations Dan Morgan opted to trade into the first round, landing former South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette. On Thursday, Carolina burned another high-valued pick on top-ranked running back Jonathan Brooks.
The offensively focused draft continued on Saturday, with the Panthers wasting no time snagging one of the most athletic tight ends on the board. With the first pick of the third round, the NFC South squad snagged former Texas football standout Ja’Tavion Sanders. Young, who struggled as a rookie signal-caller last year, will now have Sanders, Legette, and Brooks at his disposal next fall.
Former Texas Football TE Ja’Tavion Sanders: College Career
The top-ranked athlete in the class of 2021, Ja’Tavion Sanders, committed to Texas football in 2019, never wavering in his plans to join the Big 12 power. Sanders, a five-star prospect per 247Sports, settled into a reserve role as a true freshman, largely contributing on special teams. However, it didn’t take long for the former mega prospect to turn heads on offense, with Sanders becoming a weapon for quarterback Quinn Ewers in 2022. Sanders finished the season with 54 receptions, 613 yards, and five touchdowns. He set a school record for receptions by a tight end while earning first-team All-Big-12 honors. He also became a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award.
Sanders again shined with the Longhorns last season, posting three 100-yard receiving games and setting the program record for career receptions by a tight end. The Denton, Texas native finished the year with 45 receptions, 682 receiving yards, and two scores. He played best towards the end of the year, tallying 14 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown across the team’s final two games, including the College Football Playoff semifinal loss against Washington. Sanders again earned first-team All-Big-12 honors and a spot on the John Mack Award semifinalist list.
Ja’Tavion Sanders: NFL Draft Profile
Per NFL Draft Buzz, Ja’Tavion Sanders, one of the most productive tight ends in college football over the past two seasons, graded out as a second-round pick. What the six-foot-four, 245-pound tight end lacks in size, he makes up with his speed, running a 4.62 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Sanders ranked in the 64th percentile or better in the 40-yard dash, the ten-yard split, and the shuttle. Many pundits considered Sanders the second-best tight end in the 2024 NFL draft behind former Georgia Bulldogs superstar Brock Bowers.
NFL Draft Buzz praises Sanders for his pass-catching ability and capacity to climb to the second level and sustain blocks. He also provides a matchup problem against linebackers and has shown the ability to highpoint the football, especially in traffic. Sanders’ shortcomings happen at the line of scrimmage, where he has shown inconsistency in blocking premium edge rushers. He has struggled when operating in a more traditional role.
Carolina Panthers: TE Depth Chart
With tight end Hayden Hurst leaving the organization this offseason, Ja’Tavion Sanders could become an immediate playmaker to start the season. The Carolina Panthers entered this week’s NFL draft with Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, and Stephen Sullivan in the tight end room.
Tremble has spent his entire three-year NFL career with Carolina. He has failed to eclipse 200 yards receiving in any of those seasons. He caught a career-high 23 receptions in 2023. Thomas, like Tremble, has spent his entire pro career with the Panthers. The five-year veteran posted a career-low five receptions last season. Meanwhile, Sullivan caught 12 passes for 125 yards last year.
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