The Carolina Panthers are full of surprises. Just when it looked like general manager Dan Morgan might actually be content with his tight end options, the team sought an additional reinforcement in veteran free agent Darren Waller, who is reportedly signing a one-year deal.
Waller's career has been eventful, to put it mildly. But the Panthers are clearly confident that he can make a difference with a better run of luck on the injury front.
This is genius or pure desperation with no real in between.
Carolina Panthers are taking a bold swing with new tight end Darren Waller
It's been a long time since Waller was considered among the league's most prolific pass-catching tight ends. He retired before the 2024 season and joined the Miami Dolphins a year later, but the former Georgia Tech standout is far from the force of old.
It's also a damning indictment on the recent draft picks made by the Panthers at tight end.
If they had been showing enough over the summer, Waller would still be waiting for the phone to ring. That's not the case, so it'll be interesting to see who gets brushed aside with the veteran's presence in the lineup.
Waller might not need long to get himself up to speed. Darrell Bevell, who worked with the one-time Pro Bowler last season in Miami, is on Carolina's staff. His opinion about the signing was no doubt sought before Morgan made his move, and from a pure pass-catching standpoint, it could potentially be an upgrade on anything the Panthers have currently.
Time will tell on that, but it's not costing the Panthers much to find out one way or another.
Darren Waller signing grade: B
Staying healthy is the key for Waller. When he looked sharp for the Dolphins last season, he became a dependable asset with supreme capabilities in the red zone. But as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability in the NFL.
The Panthers felt like they had to do something. Some would argue that they should have acquired a productive free agent earlier in the process or used one of their draft picks on a promising prospect. But that was not their chosen direction.
Those in power opted to see if those around them could make the improvements required to become more influential. Acting now highlights a sense of dissatisfaction, even though Waller wouldn't be classed as a sure thing at this stage of his career either.
It will be fascinating to see what, if anything, Waller can offer the Panthers. But with so much at stake this season as the club looks to take the next step as NFC South champions, Morgan was done waiting around on the off chance the likes of Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and especially Ja'Tavion Sanders could rise to the occasion.
Better late than never, I guess.
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