It's Time for Tommy Tremble to 'Take Another Step'

Can the Panthers get more out of their former third-round draft choice?

One of the many spots the Carolina Panthers needed to address this offseason was the tight end position. It's a spot that has been essentially a non-factor in the passing game since the team cut ties with Greg Olsen following the 2019 season. 

Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz, Dan Arnold (sort of), Tommy Tremble, Colin Thompson, Stephen Sullivan, and a few others have had their opportunities but have failed to become a threat over the middle of the field. In free agency, GM Scott Fitterer signed veteran Hayden Hurst, who undoubtedly becomes the team's best receiving tight end since 2019 but still, many believed the Panthers would take a tight end in the 2023 draft.

It was a very deep tight class, yet the Panthers opted to pass on all of them and put their confidence in the group of guys that currently make up the room. Thomas is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL and Hurst will be their primary receiving option in that room. But what about Tommy Tremble? 

He enters his third season in the league and has yet to live up to his status of being a third-round draft pick. New tight ends coach John Lilly believes he is ready to turn a corner and attributes his age as a reason why folks shouldn't give up on him.

"One big thing with Tommy is, he entered the league at 20 years old. So, he's got two years in the league and he's still just 22 right now. He's still a young player," Lilly said Wednesday. "You look at most of the guys that were drafted, they are older right now than what he is. I think it's time for him to take another step. He made a great decision in the offseason and he stayed here, he trained all offseason. I've been very impressed with just the way he's approached the day-to-day and try to pick it all up and go take it to the field."

In his first two seasons with the team, Tremble has hauled in 39 receptions for 354 yards, and four touchdowns.

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