The Panthers have finally brought in the kind of pass-catching tight end their offense has been missing, and the move became official Monday morning when Carolina announced the signing of former Pro Bowler Darren Waller.
Waller is heading into his 10th pro season with 95 games on his resume, and at 33 he’s getting toward the back end of his NFL run. But he’s not talking like a player in decline. In fact, he says he feels better now than he has in quite some time.
“I hope that they can still see like, I mean, I feel as good as I've felt in years right now,” Waller promised. “I feel like the training that I put in this offseason has allowed me to be - from an explosive speed, movement standpoint, where I was when people remember me at the peak of my career.
And I think my scoring potential was unlocked last year in ways that hadn't been before. So combine those two, you still get a pretty decent product out of me.”
That kind of production is exactly why Carolina made the move. Tommy Tremble brings value as a blocker, but he has never offered the kind of receiving punch Waller has shown since breaking into the then-Oakland Raiders’ starting lineup in 2019. Waller went for 1,145 receiving yards and three touchdowns that season, then took it up another notch the next year with 1,196 yards, nine scores and a 73.8-percent catch rate.
The numbers have come down as the years have piled up, but Waller still found the end zone six times in nine games last season in Miami, even after temporarily retiring the year before.
Carolina may not be ready to say it out loud, but Waller should be viewed as the team’s starting tight end going forward. He also figures to be a real factor in the passing game under new play-caller Brad Idzik. If he can build chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young before the regular season starts, he could end up giving the Panthers’ offense a major lift.
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Panthers Still Have 1 Preseason Problem At Every Level
Two preseason games in, Carolina is still sorting out a few of the places where the depth chart is supposed to start taking shape, and linebacker remains one of the clearest examples. The staff is evaluating a close battle for the LB2 role next to Devin Lloyd, with Claudin Cherelus and Trevin Wallace both getting a long look as the Panthers try to settle one of the most important spots on the defense before the regular season arrives.
There is similar uncertainty on the offensive side, where the team is working through a new system under Brad Idzik and Bryce Young while also figuring out how the running backs will be used. The latest complication comes with Darren Waller, who signed recently but is still learning the playbook, leaving his status for roster cuts another part of a broader preseason puzzle that still has pieces missing at every level. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Young Enters Carolinas Biggest Debate Yet
Bryce Young is heading into the kind of season quarterbacks usually spend years trying to avoid, a year when every throw feels tied to bigger questions about the Carolina Panthers future. The roster around him has improved enough to create optimism, especially on defense, and the team has added some offensive help, but the situation still asks Young to carry a heavy load while proving he can be the long-term answer.
Even with those upgrades, the support system is far from settled, which is why this season carries so much weight for both sides. Carolina can talk about development and patience, but the reality is Young has to show real progress in a lineup that still has holes and depth concerns, or the conversation quickly shifts from an extension to the possibility of another reset at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found The Tight End Help This Offense Needed
The Panthers have spent much of the offseason looking for a tighter fit at tight end, and the signing of veteran Darren Waller gives them a proven option with real pass-catching upside. Carolinas current group produced just over 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season, which left room for a more dynamic presence in the middle of the field and near the goal line.
Waller arrives with a track record that suggests he can change that equation if he earns a spot on the final roster. The 32-year-old was productive in his most recent action and drew strong marks from Pro Football Focus, but the bigger question for Carolina is whether that form carries over long enough to make him a factor in the red zone once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]