Veteran tight end NFL.com is continuing his NFL comeback by signing a one-year contract with the Yahoo Sports. The agreement was reported on Wednesday, though terms of the deal were not disclosed, and a corresponding roster move was expected to follow on Thursday according to the Carolina Panthers.
Darren Waller Agrees to One-Year Deal with Carolina Panthers
The 33-year-old pass-catcher went unsigned through the opening weeks of training camp after entering the offseason ranked No. 88 on The Athletic’s Top 150 free agents list and ninth among tight ends. His arrival in Carolina brings a proven veteran option to an offense aiming to support fourth-year quarterback Yahoo Sports, coming off an 8-9 campaign that won the NFC South and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017 as reported by Bleacherreport and Yahoo Sports.
Career Journey from Baltimore to Miami and Retirement
Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the NFL.com as a wide receiver, Waller overcame early-career substance abuse issues that led to a four-game suspension in 2016 and a season-long suspension in 2017 Nytimes. After Baltimore waived him coming out of the preseason and placed him on the practice squad, the then-Nytimes signed him off the practice squad in 2018 Nfltraderumors.
In Las Vegas, Waller enjoyed his most productive years, highlighted by back-to-back seasons with more than 1,100 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl campaign in 2020 where he posted career highs of 107 catches, 1,196 yards, and nine touchdowns noted by The Athletic. Following a trade to the NFL.com in 2023, injuries limited him to 12 games and 552 yards according to same reports. He retired ahead of the 2024 season, citing changing passions and an off-field medical scare where he felt he almost lost his life reported Yahoo Sports.
Waller ended his retirement prior to the 2025 campaign, joining the NFL.com via trade after contacting his agent, Drew Rosenhaus reported ESPN. Despite missing time due to hip, quad, pectoral, and groin injuries, he played nine games, caught 24 passes for 283 yards, and tied for the team lead with six touchdowns noted by athletic sources.
Addressing Carolina’s Red Zone and Tight End Needs
The signing provides an immediate boost to a Panthers tight end room that has lacked a prolific pass catcher since the departure of Greg Olsen, whose final 50-plus catch season came in 2019 according to NFL.com. During the 2025 season, Carolina tight ends Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders combined for 56 receptions, while Waller’s six touchdowns in nine games surpassed the combined touchdown totals of Tremble (two), Sanders (one), and Mitchell Evans (two) noted league statistics.
Waller joins a tight end group under head coach Dave Canales that includes Tremble, Sanders, Caden Prieskorn, James Mitchell, and Feleipe Franks reported NBC Sports. Panthers associate head coach and offensive specialist Darrell Bevell previously worked with Waller during their shared time in Miami noted the same outlet, providing familiarity as Waller integrates into an offense featuring emerging weapons like rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan highlighted by Bleacher Report.
