Panthers announce return of TE on Tuesday

The Carolina Panthers have locked in a return. As announced on Tuesday afternoon, the team has signed tight end and special teams ace Feleipe Franks. The 28-year-old veteran was a member of the Panthers roster during the 2024 campaign, where he appeared in 16 games.

Franks, who split his collegiate career between the University of Florida (2016 to 2019) and the University of Arkansas (2020), first entered the NFL as an undrafted quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. He'd begin his transition to tight end in a hybrid role for Atlanta the following offseason. After missing the entire 2023 season due to a foot injury, Franks signed with Carolina in the summer of 2024.

Through his 16 outings for the Panthers, he recorded one catch for 12 yards and registered 305 snaps on special teams. 2025 saw Franks return to Atlanta on a one-year pact. He played in all 17 games for the Falcons.

Follow our free agency tracker for all the latest moves. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Panthers announce signing of TE Feleipe Franks