Ja'Tavion Sanders

Sanders has already dealt with a high-ankle sprain and a fibula fracture within his first two pro seasons; another lower-leg setback would cost him reps he has no margin to spare in a five-man TE room.

Beat reporting around the 2026 roster-cutdown deadline described Carolina fielding trade interest in Sanders, a sign the front office may not view him as a long-term piece at the position.

His usage skews to a shallow, check-down role (4.8 aDOT), which caps weekly ceiling even in scenarios where his snap count grows.

Waller, signed in August 2026 as veteran depth, has been described by beat reporters as a limited-snap piece; if his role doesn't stick, the receiving-TE work could flow toward Sanders ahead of the more blocking-oriented Tremble and Evans.

The same trade buzz that clouds his standing in Carolina could also land him with a offense offering a clearer receiving-TE lane, a path that has unlocked value for other buried Day 2 tight ends.