Scoring Zone
Today
transaction +2.0 impact 2 sources covering this

Darren Waller's NFL comeback continues via a new deal with Panthers

Darren Waller has signed a new deal with the Carolina Panthers, potentially serving as a safety valve and reliable red zone target.

First seen Aug 13, 2026 · 4:01 AM UTC · last updated Aug 13 2:30 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Darren Waller's move to Carolina is worth flagging for draft prep, but temper your enthusiasm. He's landing on a Panthers offense that hasn't featured a productive receiving tight end in years, and he's coming off a retirement/return saga with real injury and usage uncertainty attached to his recent career arc. The upside case is legitimate: a former Pro Bowl tight end who can still separate and win in the red zone gives Bryce Young a security blanket, and if the offense funnels targets his way, Waller could carve out TE2/streaming value in deeper leagues. Draft him as a late-round dart throw or a priority waiver-wire name once camp battles clarify his role — not as a locked-in starter.

For Bryce Young, this is a modest positive. Adding a veteran, sure-handed tight end gives him a reliable underneath and red-zone option, which theoretically stabilizes his completion percentage and touchdown floor. That said, don't overreact and bump Young significantly in draft rankings off this alone; quarterback fantasy value hinges far more on volume, offensive line play, and overall scheme than on one tight end signing. Treat this as a small positive data point in Young's profile, not a game-changer.

Confidence here is high on the fact of the signing itself — both sources confirm the deal with full confidence — but the fantasy production projections (red-zone role, target share, "safety valve" language) are speculative framing from the sources, not guaranteed outcomes. Monitor camp reports and depth-chart signals before committing significant draft capital to either player based on this news.

Report: Former Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller signing one-year deal with Panthers

Watch the best plays from Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Wallers two-touchdown game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season.

Darren Waller's comeback from retirement isn't ending with a swansong for the Miami Dolphins.

Waller is signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday night.

Waller has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Raiders, New York Giants and, last year, with the Dolphins.

A Pro Bowler in 2020 for the Raiders, Waller retired and did not play in 2024, but returned last season with the Fins and found surprising success with six touchdowns in nine games, proving to be a stellar red zone talent.

RELATED CONTENT

He should fill a rather large need for the Panthers, who haven't had a plus-pass catcher at tight end since the days of Greg Olsen. The last tight end with 50-plus catches in a season for the Panthers was Olsen in 2019.

In 2025, Tommy Tremble and Ja'Tavion Sanders combined for 56 catches in Carolina.

Waller had 24 in his aforementioned nine games and his six TDs were more than Tremble (two), Sanders (one) and Mitchell Evans (two) had at the Panthers TE spot combined.

Giving quarterback Bryce Young a veteran option at tight end in a pivotal campaign for the quarterback could be a huge confidence and production booster.

Coverage from Nfl Dot Com News · by Grant Gordon · Aug 13, 2026 · read original