5 new Carolina Panthers players who could be one-and-done in 2021

Dan Arnold – Carolina Panthers TE

Hopes are high that Dan Arnold can come in and provide a more reliable pass-catching presence at the tight end position that simply wasn’t there in 2020. Ian Thomas just didn’t live up to expectations after the Carolina Panthers decided to let Greg Olsen walk in free agency, which hurt the team both in key moments and in the red zone.

Judging by Arnold’s production with the Arizona Cardinals last season, this is a trend that might change providing the player hits the ground running in a scheme he’s already familiar with.

Arnold is a tight end with wide receiver ball skills who represents a difficult matchup for outside linebackers and slot cornerbacks alike. Using him in the correct manner is crucial and his arrival could give quarterback Sam Darnold another solid weapon to call upon.

Carolina also drafted Tommy Tremble in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Notre Dame product is already an NFL-ready blocker, so if he can refine his pass-catching and route-running in the coming months, the Panthers have the complete package on their hands.

This piles some additional pressure on Arnold, who can be moved on with a dead-cap figure of $2.3 million next season – a saving of $1.5 million.

Arnold has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. It’s something he’s worked incredibly hard to achieve and one thing is for sure, he’ll be doing all he can to ensure it doesn’t go to waste.