Panthers Land Elite Offensive Weapon and Defensive Playmaker in Ideal Draft Scenario
The Carolina Panthers did not have the season they envisioned having in 2024. The team ended with a 5-12 record and finished in third place in the NFC South. Quarterback Bryce Young was benched during the season in favor of Andy Dalton before the team ultimately decided to turn back to Young.
All signs point to Young remaining the team’s passer going forward. Now, the rest of the roster around the young quarterback needs to be improved to give him his best chance at success. NFL draft analyst Chad Reuter recently identified the ideal first two picks for each NFL team. For the Panthers, Reuter identified tight end Tyler Warren and defensive back Kevin Winston Jr. as the best possible picks for the team. Regarding the selections of Warren and Winston, Reuter offered the following: The Panthers might have bigger needs on their roster than at tight end, but they are unlikely to find a more impactful player on offense than Warren.
His presence as a safety valve and red-zone threat would aid Bryce Young’s progression as a third-year starter. In this scenario, they take Winston — a rangy, secure tackler — to play beside free-agent pick-up Tre’von Moehrig. By taking two prospects from the same school with their first two picks, they follow the lead of the Rams (who actually traded Carolina this year’s 57th overall pick as part of the process of pairing Jared Verse and Braden Fiske of Florida State) and Jaguars (who took Brian Thomas Jr. and Maason Smith out of LSU) last year.
As Reuter mentioned, the Panthers may have bigger needs than a tight end in the first round, but Warren may be too good of a talent to pass up. In 2024, Warren caught a whopping 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. The tight end led the Big Ten in receptions and even finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. While Warren was an elite pass-catcher, the tight end also contributed in other ways. Warren also rushed for 218 yards and four scores, showcasing his versatility.
The Penn State product also excels as a blocker and could thrive as an in-line tight end or in the slot. Winston, meanwhile, was a college teammate of Warren. The defensive back missed most of the 2024 season with injury, only playing in three games.
