Panthers sign Darren Waller to one-year deal

The Carolina Panthers have added veteran free agent tight end Darren Waller on a one-year contract, his agency said on Wednesday.

Waller, 33, arrives after playing the 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins, where he totaled 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. He is a former Pro Bowl selection.

Waller reunites with Darrell Bevell

The Carolina Panthers

The signing brings Waller back together with Panthers associate head coach Darrell Bevell. Bevell worked with Waller in Miami as the Dolphins’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach during Waller’s time with the team. Carolina’s tight end group already includes Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Ja’Tavion Sanders. Waller’s addition gives the unit another experienced receiving threat as the coaching staff sorts through roles ahead of the upcoming season. Roster math as Carolina sits at the 91-man limit Waller’s arrival also creates an immediate roster-management issue. The Panthers are currently at the 91-man limit, meaning a corresponding move will be required once the signing is made official.

When he is officially added

When he is officially added, Waller—who turns 34 in September—is set to become the oldest non-specialist on the team’s active roster. A source described the move as a strategic addition rather than a reaction to injuries within the tight end group.

Competition expected in a crowded tight end room

The tight end rotation is expected to become more competitive with Waller in place, with attention likely to focus on how snaps are distributed among players who offer different skill sets. The team carried four tight ends on its 53-man roster in 2025, and final choices will be needed again as the season approaches.

Tremble is entering his sixth season, while Evans joined the roster as a 2025 fifth-round pick. Sanders, a 2024 fourth-round pick, played in the Hall of Fame Game the previous week despite a minor ankle injury earlier.

Sanders has reportedly dealt with ankle problems across the past two seasons and underwent surgery for his most recent issue last season. Waller, meanwhile, dealt with multiple injuries in Miami during 2025 after coming out of retirement.

The personnel mix may shape how Carolina structures the position group. Evans and Tremble are viewed as more traditional tight ends, while Waller and Sanders are described as primarily pass-catching options, leaving the coaching staff to determine the best combination as roster deadlines near.