Panthers tight end claims he can be exactly what Bryce Young needs in 2024 season

When the Carolina Panthers drafted Ja'Tavion Sanders, the franchise knew it was getting a versatile tight end. 

However, what the team may not have known is that Sanders has lofty expectations for himself heading into his rookie season.

"I'm just trying to be the next Greg Olsen," Sanders said Saturday after rookie minicamp. "I'm trying to be the new face of the offense for sure." 

Sanders was widely viewed as a steal for the Panthers, who selected the do-it-all tight end in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Panthers steal playmaker everyone forgot to draft and he'll be huge for Bryce Young's development
Ja'Tavion Sanders was not supposed to be there in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft... Continue reading

He brings to the Panthers receiver abilities that are sure to make Bryce Young a happy starting quarterback throughout the 2024 season. 

During his three seasons at Texas, Sanders was a go-to pass-catcher. He was the team's third-leading receiver with 45 receptions for 682 yards and two touchdowns during the 2023 season. A year before, during the 2022 season, Sanders had 54 receptions for 613 yards and five touchdowns.

That is the Olsen-like production he wants to bring to the Panthers offense. 

"I was a receiver in high school so I'm kind of advanced as far as my receiving goes. And I feel like the tight ends in this draft class, we're the new age tight ends," Sanders said, via the Panthers official team website. " Guys like (Travis) Kelce and (Geroge) Kittle and (T.J.) Hockinson, they're the guys who started the new tight end age, but guys like me and Brock (Bowers), Cade (Stover) and Jared Wiley, guys like that, we're the new age tight ends, that bring more the receiving ability to the tight end position."

With Sanders' eyes on being Olsen-like, the Panthers appear to have a player whose head is in the right place from day one.