Panthers Sign Pro Bowl Tight End

The Carolina Panthers have bolstered their roster with a one-year contract extension for Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. The 33-year-old Waller, whose career resurgence last season with the Miami Dolphins saw him record 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns, is expected to enhance quarterback Bryce Young's offensive arsenal, which already features wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and tight ends Tommy Tremble and Ja Tavion Sanders.

Waller, who began his NFL journey as a sixth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, initially struggled, recording only two catches for 18 yards as a rookie before transitioning to tight end and amassing 10 more catches, 85 yards, and two touchdowns the following year. However, Waller's off-field issues, including substance-abuse policy violations and subsequent suspensions, plagued his career.

After serving a one-year ban without pay in 2017, he bounced around the league with the Raiders, where he found success from 2019-22, amassing 280 catches for 3,394 yards, and 17 touchdowns. His tenure with the New York Giants in 2023 was cut short due to a hamstring injury and subsequent retirement from football before the 2024 season.