Panthers Sign Tight End Darren Waller to One-Year Deal
The veteran reunites with associate head coach Darrell Bevell, who coached him in Miami, after a 2025 season cut short by a groin injury.
The Carolina Panthers signed free agent tight end Darren Waller to a one-year deal, his agency announced Wednesday, adding a proven veteran to a Carolina offense entering the 2026 season.
Why did Carolina make this move?
Waller reunites with associate head coach Darrell Bevell, who previously coached him with the Miami Dolphins. A source told ESPN the signing was "not because of an injury to one of the other tight ends on the roster," framing it as adding depth and experience rather than filling an immediate need.
What's Waller's recent history?
A 2015 sixth-round pick by Baltimore, Waller made a Pro Bowl with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. He sat out the entire 2024 season in retirement before returning with Miami in 2025, where he caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns across nine games before a groin injury landed him on injured reserve.
What does he bring to Carolina's tight end room?
Across nine NFL seasons, Waller has caught 374 passes for 4,407 yards and 26 touchdowns. At 33, he adds a veteran red-zone and pass-catching option as the Panthers build out their offense heading into the season.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Free agent TE Darren Waller, Panthers agree to 1-year deal
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