Panthers Sign New Pro Bowl Weapon for QB Bryce Young
· Yahoo Sports
The Carolina Panthers enter the 2026 NFL season with higher expectations than they have had in years. After making a run to the playoffs last season and an NFC South division title, fans are expecting to see more this year.
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Bryce Young still faces a lot of pressure to prove he can be a high-level franchise quarterback. Over the last couple of years, the Panthers have done everything they can to surround him with more talent.
On Wednesday evening, Carolina made another move to support Young.
According to a report from ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract with former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller.
"Former Pro-Bowl tight end Darren Waller and the Carolina Panthers reached agreement today on a one-year deal, per source," Schefter reported on X.
Waller will add another intriguing weapon to the Carolina offense. He may not be the star that he once was earlier in his NFL career, but he's still capable of being an impact player.
Last season, the 33-year-old tight end played in nine games with the Miami Dolphins. He caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns. Back in 2023 with the New York Giants, he recorded 52 receptions for 552 yards and a touchdown in 12 games.
His lone Pro Bowl appearance came back in 2020. Waller played for the Las Vegas Raiders and caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games played.
No one should be expecting those numbers with the Panthers. Instead, he can simply come in as a role player and be a reliable target for Young when his number is called.
As for Young, the 25-year-old quarterback had a career-best season in 2025. He completed 63.6 percent of his pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while also running for 216 yards and two more scores. Young played in 16 regular season games.
On the outside looking in, Carolina looks like a team that should be a playoff contender in the NFC. If the talent plays up to its full potential, the Panthers will be a difficult team to beat.
Waller doesn't necessarily move the playoff needle a ton, but he does add quality depth to an offense that continues trying to find ways to improve. A one-year deal is well worth the risk for Carolina.