Panthers Expect Big Things From Ja’Tavion Sanders in 2025

A photo from Tight End University (TEU) in late June captures where the Panthers stand at tight end. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina’s 2024 fourth-round pick, flashes his new grill with a confident smile. Just behind him is Tommy Tremble, making a peace sign while recovering from back surgery. And next to them is Panthers legend Greg Olsen, eyes wide and smiling — a reminder that Carolina still hasn’t truly replaced him since 2019.

Sanders now finds himself at the center of the Panthers’ tight end room. Tremble remains sidelined, and Sanders is embracing the opportunity to lead.

A Fresh Start for a Struggling Position

The Panthers’ tight ends haven’t been much of a threat in recent years. In the five seasons since Olsen’s departure, Carolina ranks last in the NFL in every key tight end stat — targets, receptions, yards, touchdowns, and first downs.

To put it in perspective, Olsen alone produced more receiving yards, touchdowns, and first downs in his final three seasons (2014–2016) than the Panthers’ entire tight end group has in the five years since.

Compared to league leaders like the Kansas City Chiefs, the gap is even wider. Chiefs tight ends have 519 more targets and nearly 5,000 more yards than Carolina’s over that same stretch.

Room for Growth — and Optimism

The Panthers know there’s plenty of ground to make up. Last year, Sanders and Tremble combined for just 56 catches — a number 13 individual tight ends surpassed in 2024, and half of what Raiders rookie Brock Bowers posted on his own.

Still, tight ends coach Pat McPherson sees promise. In a minicamp session before summer break, Sanders hauled in a touchdown pass from Bryce Young — and the entire tight end group erupted in celebration.

“Every guy in the tight end group was jumping up and down for him,” McPherson said. “It’s nice when the guys come together like that.”

Tremble Still Involved, Sanders Steps Up

Though Tremble is recovering from back surgery and won’t be ready for the start of training camp, he’s remained active. He attended TEU and joined most of the Panthers’ offseason meetings and film sessions.

“He’s a huge part of it,” McPherson said. “He’ll be back when we get into the season.”

In the meantime, Sanders has stepped into a leadership role. He dropped 10 pounds this offseason to improve his speed and trained with Young in California — all on his own initiative.

“It makes me feel confident about him going into the summer,” head coach Dave Canales said. “He has a plan and he’s preparing for a big year.”

McPherson added, “He went away and said, ‘Let’s crank up my focus. I know I’ve got to be a leader in this group.’ He’s done it without me having to say, ‘You’re the guy.’ It’s a real credit to him.”

Coach Canales: Tight Ends Are Key to the Offense

While the Panthers don’t have a tight end like Olsen yet, Canales isn’t concerned. He believes the tight ends are vital to Carolina’s offense, doing the “dirty work” in blocking, pass protection, and running routes.

“Those guys make us go,” Canales said. “The versatility. We ask them to do the dirty work, to block in the run game, pass protection at times, and they show up. Maybe we send them out on a route.

“If you’re talking about targets, that just kind of happens organically. The more comfortable Bryce gets with JT, with Mitch, when we get Tommy back, it’s that chemistry that’s going to create those opportunities for them.”

A Confident Group Moving Forward

Despite recent struggles, the Panthers believe their tight end room can be a strength.

“Tremble, he definitely excels the room,” Sanders said. “But in our room, I don’t think there is any drop-off. I think it can be a dominant room because there’s no drop-off.”

If the group can take a step forward in 2025, Sanders’ bold prediction from minicamp — that Carolina will create “matchup nightmares” — might become reality.

“They’re the life of what we’re trying to do,” Canales said. “They tie the whole thing together.”

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This report used information from ESPN.