Ja’ Tavion Sanders | Texas 6’4” 245 lbs. 03/27/2003 (Age 21)
Ja’ Tavion Sanders was drafted by the Carolina Panthers, becoming the 4th tight end and the 101st overall player in the 2024 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards/Catch | TD’s |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 54 | 613 | 11.4 | 5 |
| 2023 | 14 | 45 | 682 | 15.2 | 2 |
After three seasons Sanders ranks first all-time among Texas tight ends in receptions (99), second in receiving yards (1,295), and sixth in receiving touchdowns (seven). His freshman year he appeared primarily on special teams and in 2022 his sophomore year his 54 receptions were the most for a tight end in program history. In 2023, he was named a John Mackey Award semifinalist, an annual award given to the tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academy, and community of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Mackey. He also totaled three 100-yard receiving games and caught five passes for a career-high 114 yards against number three Alabama at the time, including a career-long 50-yard reception showing his dynamic abilities. His most impressive season in 2023 earned him All-Big 12 First Team honors as well.
FILM
STRENGTHS
He is a talented pass-catching tight end with an exciting floor as he can get up the field beating man coverage at his route stems and separating quickly on turns. He’s also able to win catches underneath and has proven to be very effective running the seam or catching the intermediate throws into zone pockets. Overall, he’s well-coordinated making leaping catches, and can outrun linebackers to get open in space. With his athletic ability, he’s also great with running after the catch and has the tools to become a more effective blocker. He has the potential to open up a passing game for teams looking at pass-catching tight ends.
WEAKNESSES
Sanders has an average build as some of the great NFL tight ends are 6’5” or 6′ 6” and he has more room to add muscle. He also flashes ability as a run blocker but it’s an area he needs to improve upon as he isn’t consistent at the point of attack as he allows defenders to play through his base to become a complete tight end. He also has limited college production with only two years of tape for teams to review.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At the combine, Sanders measured 6′ 4 ” and 245 lbs, which equates to a BMI of 29.8. He checked in with an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.69 with a 1.59 10-yard split and finished with an NFL NextGen Stats composite score of 81, which was second among all tight ends and projecting him to be an eventual plus starter. At his Texas Pro Day, he had just eight bench press reps, a 30” vertical jump, and a 9 ‘6” broad jump, which were all considered below average.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Great
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Average
Sanders was selected with the 101st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
I have Sanders ranked as the number two tight end in this class for projected future Dynasty value. His analytical profile is solid but he projects as more of a receiving tight-end comparable to an Isaiah Likely. He will be a nice security blanket for last year’s number-one overall pick Bryce Young.
He should go off the board in the mid-3rd-round of Dynasty rookie drafts. He is a solid upside target for Dynasty teams looking for a receiving tight end with starter potential if the Panther’s offense can continue to develop.
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