Panthers linked to trade proposal that would solve TE problem

Coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft, it's not difficult to see where the Carolina Panthers' biggest roster hole is. While their safety room is still a bit thin for our taste, tight end is now indisputably their weakest unit.

On the free-agent front, David Njoku and Jonnu Smith are the best available options at this position, but Carolina is roughly $3 million in the red in cap space when you count the cost of their draft picks. So that's not really viable.

A much better idea just crossed our desk, courtesy of Kristopher Knox at Bleacher Report. He has linked Carolina to a potential trade for Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet:

Kmet has been a valuable pass-catching tight end for the Bears and has topped 500 receiving yards in three of his six seasons. He only turned 27 in March and should still have plenty of long-term value to teams other than Chicago...

Kmet (6-foot-6, 257 pounds) represents what the Panthers have been missing at this spot since Greg Olsen's peak—a viable pass-catching threat. Since he was taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Bears, Kmet has appeared in 100 games—putting up 288 catches, 2,939 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Moreover, Kmet is exactly the kind of player that the Panthers need most to move the needle before the 2026 season begins. Adding third-rounder Chris Brazzell II to the wide receiver corps helps, but no draft pick is a guarantee—especially as a rookie. Landing Kmet would give quarterbacl Bryce Young the security blanket on third down that he needs, as well as another red-zone threat.