Ranking the Panthers position groups after the 2020 NFL draft

Let’s reorient ourselves with the state of the roster by ranking each position group on the team, starting with the strongest unit.

10. Tight end

Ian Thomas
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Starter: Ian Thomas

Backups: Chris Manhertz, Seth DeValve, Temarrick Hemingway, Colin Thompson

Analysis: Greg Olsen may not be the same playmaker who averaged over 1,000 yards from 2014-2016. That doesn’t mean Carolina won’t miss him dearly. Thomas is one of the biggest question marks for this offense. While he has plus athleticism, he’s lacking in experience and his drop rate (10% in 2019) is extremely concerning. Thomas needs to develop softer hands and get into a rhythm with Bridgewater fast, because there’s no other true pass-catching tight ends on the roster. Signing somebody like Thaddeus Moss would have made a lot of sense.