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Panthers Quickly Sign Player From Playoff Team That Was Just Eliminated

By Joe Summers

Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
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The Carolina Panthers' offseason is already underway as general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales try to reshape the roster for 2025. While QB Bryce Young impressed in the second half of the year, there are significant holes on both sides of the ball that need to be addressed.

As a result, expect the Panthers to do their due diligence in free agency in an attempt to find diamonds in the rough who could become valuable contributors. The team needs more reliable pass-catchers and just made a move to bring a young option into the building.

They may have just found one in 25-year-old TE James Mitchell, who just concluded his third season with the Detroit Lions, agreed to a reserve/future contract on Tuesday.

Panthers Sign TE James Mitchell and OLB Carlos Basham to Reserve/Future Contracts

Mitchell spent most of the year on Detroit's practice squad. He was originally a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and has appeared in 30 career games, catching 13 passes for 141 yards and a TD.

At six-foot-four, 246 pounds, the Virginia Tech product has exciting size and athleticism. He had 52 receptions for 838 yards and seven TDs as a Hokie, adding another five scores as a rusher in unique packages.

The Panthers need a long-term backup at tight end. Carolina hopes that Ja'Tavion Sanders will be the starter for the foreseeable future, though the depth behind him is mediocre at best. Tommy Tremble has promise, yet it's always wise to continue stockpiling potential assets at the position.

That Mitchell has ties to a successful organization like the Lions only helps matters. Acquiring players from winning environments is a sound way to build a roster and even if Mitchell doesn't make the team after training camp, he's a logical candidate to keep on the practice squad.

In all likelihood, Mitchell won't have a tangible impact on the 2025 Panthers. The slim chance that he could makes this a worthy signing though, and fans should expect more dart throws from the front office in the coming months.

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