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Panthers just added a dangerous new weapon originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Carolina Panthers are adding another proven weapon to their offense.
Carolina reached an agreement Wednesday with veteran tight end Darren Waller on a one-year contract, his agency announced, giving the Panthers an experienced pass catcher with Pro Bowl credentials.
Waller, 33, spent last season with the Miami Dolphins , where he worked with Darrell Bevell, now the Panthers’ associate head coach and offensive specialist. Bevell served as Miami’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2025, giving Waller familiarity with one of the key members of Carolina’s offensive staff.
Panthers gamble on Waller
Waller returned from a one-year retirement to play for Miami after the Dolphins acquired his rights from the New York Giants . Despite battling injuries, he appeared in nine games and caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns.
The former sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens has played nine NFL seasons. His best stretch came with the Las Vegas Raiders , including a Pro Bowl campaign in 2020. Waller has 374 career receptions for 4,407 yards and 26 touchdowns.
His arrival adds intrigue to an already crowded Panthers tight end room.
Veteran Tommy Tremble enters his sixth season with Carolina, while Mitchell Evans, Ja’Tavion Sanders, James Mitchell and Feleipe Franks are also competing for roster spots.
Sanders could face increased competition following the move. The former starter has dealt with ankle issues during his first two NFL seasons and underwent surgery following his latest injury last year.
Carolina carried four tight ends on its 53-man roster in 2025, but Waller’s addition could change the equation.
While Tremble and Evans offer more traditional tight end skill sets, Waller gives the Panthers another receiving threat capable of creating mismatches in space.
If healthy, Waller could provide Carolina’s passing attack with a veteran red-zone target and add another option as the Panthers continue shaping their offense ahead of the 2026 season.
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