The Carolina Panthers have finally added a quality pass-catching tight end to their roster. That news was made official on Monday morning, as the reigning NFC South champs announced the signing of former Pro Bowler Darren Waller. Now entering his 10th pro season with 95 games under his belt, Waller is nearing the end of his NFL career. However, the 33-year-old claims that he feels as good as he has in a while. Here's what Waller had to say about his game after joining the Panthers, per team reporter Kassidy Hill:
"I hope that they can still see like, I mean, I feel as good as I've felt in years right now," Waller promised. "I feel like the training that I put in this offseason has allowed me to be — from an explosive speed, movement standpoint, where I was when people remember me at the peak of my career. And I think my scoring potential was unlocked last year in ways that hadn't been before. So combine those two, you still get a pretty decent product out of me."
While Panthers starting tight end Tommy Tremble is a superb blocker, he's never been a legitimate receiving threat the way Waller has been since he broke into the then-Oakland Raiders' starting lineup in 2019. That year, he totaled 1,145 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He peaked the following season, posting 1,196 yards to go with nine scores and a 73.8-percent catch rate. Waller's numbers have naturally fallen off as he's aged. But he was still sharp enough to score six touchdowns over nine games last season in Miami, after (temporarily) retiring the season prior. Even if they're not willing to say it publicly, Waller should be considered Carolina's starting tight end going forward—and he should be a solid contributor to their passing attack under the team's new play-caller, offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. If Waller can establish some good chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young before the regular season begins, he will provide a big boost to their offense. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers TE Darren Waller: 'I feel as good as I've felt in years right now'