The Carolina Panthers are finalizing their plans for the NFL Draft with just a few days before the first round begins. That now includes meeting with Ohio State Buckeyes tight end prospect Max Klare.
In fact, a report from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston shared that the Panthers have met extensively with Klare. The big tight end made a strong impression on the team at the NFL Combine, and the team has been holding those meetings since then.
Carolina isn’t the only team with an interest in Klare, though. Wilson shared that the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all been involved with him as well.
It’s not a secret that the Panthers are on the market for more weapons around quarterback Bryce Young. Tight end is a position of need, in particular, and it’s been suggested that Carolina could be willing to use a high-round pick on a tight end.
What to Know About Ohio State Buckeyes Tight End Max Klare
GettyOhio State Buckeyes tight end Max Klare
A native of Cincinnati, Max Klare was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2022, according to Rivals. He would initially attend Purdue before later transferring to Ohio State ahead of the 2025 season.
Klare had been a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024, but had a true breakout season in his one year with the Buckeyes. That would result in a First-Team All-Big Ten selection.
By the time his college career had wrapped up, Klare had 116 receptions for 1,396 yards. That’s good for 12.03 yards per reception. He would also add 6 career touchdowns. While in school, pass catching was his primary strength as a tight end.
At the NFL Combine, Klare was measured at 6’4 3/8″ and 246 lbs. However, he did not run a 40-yard dash or bench press.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote several scouting reports on prospects ahead of the draft. That included one for Klare.
“Highly athletic, pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets on the pro level,” Zierlein wrote. “Klare can live beyond the typical targeted depth for most tight ends thanks to his route inventory and ability to generate separation across the field. He’s best from the slot but can widen out when a matchup presents itself. Hands and ball-tracking are below average but his production could make teams forget the drops. He improved as a run blocker as the season progressed, but “functional” might be the finish line there. In a league craving impact tight ends, Klare has a chance to inject life into an offense hunting mismatches.”
Klare is generally being projected as a Day 2 pick. However, the NFL Draft can be chaotic, and players are selected higher and lower than expected all the time.
Draft Trade Proposal Has the Panthers Landing a Tight End
GettyChicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet
The NFL Draft can lead to more than a little bit of speculation. That has fallen on the Panthers recently, as a Fox Sports article proposed that they could make a trade with the Chicago Bears for tight end Cole Kmet.
This could be seen as a bit of a win-win for both the Panthers and the Bears. Kmet is currently locked up on a contract for the next two years that’s paying him starter money. However, he’s moved into sharing snaps with Chicago, so they could be looking to move him.
At the same time, Kmet is a proven tight end and could be incredibly valuable to a young Panthers offense. So, even if his production is down recently, there is value there.
The cost of the trade would be fourt-round pick in 2026 and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2027. That’s a manageable value, but it is also just a hypothetical for the time being.
Panthers Met Extensively With Ohio State Tight End Prospect Ahead of NFL Draft