While all the talk has been about Aaron Donald mounting a comeback to the league we all know and love, another former Pro Bowler has quietly inked a one-year deal this week.
After stepping away from football for a year, Darren Waller has landed a contract with the Carolina Panthers. While the news took many by surprise, a section of Panthers fans also had a few questions regarding why the franchise chose to go down this road.
Carolina Panthers’ Darren Waller Move Sparks Concern
The Panthers have signed the veteran former Pro Bowl tight end to a one-year contract. Waller’s agency, Rosenhaus Sports, confirmed the deal during training camp.
Soon afterward, fans on X questioned what the move could mean for Carolina’s tight end room.
One fan summed up the surprise, writing, “I could’ve sworn Waller had retired. This might be a telling sign of how Canales and Idzik feel about the current TE room.”
Another Panthers fan showed even less excitement about the signing. “Panthers signing a 33-year-old who already quit football once for a music career is peak desperation. Bryce Young gets another washed TE while the real talent stays far away from Charlotte,” the fan remarked.
At 33, Waller already carries some concerns after inconsistent production since 2021. Still, he showed he can play a bit during the 2025 season. Between Weeks 4 and 6, Waller recorded 117 yards and four touchdowns.
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He finished the season with 283 yards and six touchdowns, giving the Panthers a veteran pass catcher with recent production.
However, the signing becomes harder to understand if Carolina simply wanted another body at the position.
Teams usually prefer developing younger tight ends rather than taking snaps away from them. Panthers fans have now started viewing Waller’s arrival as a possible sign that Carolina lacks confidence in Ja’Tavion Sanders.
“Direct statement on how the Panthers (correctly) view Ja’Tavion Sanders,” one fan wrote.
ESPN reporter Mike Kaye offered another reason for the move. “To add to this, I’m told by a league source that this move is not injury-related. Waller played under new Panthers associate head coach Darrell Bevell in Miami last season. Bevell was the passing game coordinator for the Dolphins and Waller is a pass-catching tight end.”
Another fan quickly shifted the conversation toward Waller’s biggest concern: whether he can stay on the field.
“Can he stay healthy?” the fan asked.
That question carries some weight, as Waller missed eight games last season while dealing with multiple injuries. Carolina will need more than flashes of his old form if the veteran wants to become a reliable part of the offense.
Waller works best as a “move” tight end who can use his athleticism and receiver background to create problems in space. That ability became especially clear during his prime after he left the Baltimore Ravens.
After completing rehab for substance abuse, Waller rebuilt his career and eventually landed with the Raiders. From 2019 in Oakland through 2020 in Las Vegas, he produced 2,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.
During those seasons, many viewed Waller as the league’s No. 2 tight end behind Travis Kelce. PFSN’s TE Impact Metric gave him grades of 93.9 in 2019 (ranked #3) and 92.7 in 2020 (ranked #2).
Still, fans remain skeptical about Carolina’s decision.
“Of all the most random Panthers signings all time, this one is way up there,” one fan said.
However, Waller now has an opportunity to change that perception.
