Tight ends usually don’t go too high on NFL draft boards. But this one, at least according to NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, may be very much worth it for the Carolina Panthers.
Zierlein just pushed out his first set of first-round projections this offseason, and has the Panthers nabbing Penn State standout Tyler Warren with the eighth overall pick.
He writes:
Bryce Young’s turnaround has given life to the Panthers, but he still needs more help. Warren can become the perfect safety blanket for the third-year quarterback.
The Panthers, throughout the entirety of the 2024 campaign, completed passes to four tight ends—three of which are set to hit free agency. That bunch includes Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas and Feleipe Franks—so the offense could be rather light at the spot after this spring.
Warren, who is viewed as the top prospect in a loaded tight end class, will enter the pros as a first-team All-American and a John Mackey Award winner. He finished up his final season at Penn State with a conference-leading 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns.