Carolina Panthers add wide receiver, cut tight end before mandatory minicamp
The Carolina Panthers did some roster tinkering Monday ahead of this week’s mandatory minicamp.
The team officially signed rookie wide receiver Malick Meiga to a contract, the organization announced. The terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, though Meiga agreed to the deal shortly after April’s NFL Draft.
Rookie tight end Heinrich Haarberg was waived in a corresponding move. Haarberg signed with the team on May 20 and took part in the entirety of organized team activities (OTAs).
Meiga, who hails from Montreal, Canada, was a second-round pick of the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in April. However, Meiga agreed to an undrafted rookie deal — typically a three-year contract — with Carolina, and he will now get to spend a week with the team before the break ahead of training camp.
Meiga, who split his college career between Penn State and Coastal Carolina, had 35 catches for 432 yards and two touchdowns over five years of college ball. The 6-foot-4, 201-pound had a career-high 19 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown last season at Coastal Carolina. During his three seasons at Penn State, Meiga was mostly used on special teams. In 2022, Meiga had four tackles and forced fumble for the Nittany Lions.
Meiga joins a jam-packed wide receiver room with plenty of competition. While reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan, was sidelined during OTAs with foot soreness, the rest of the group, led by Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette and third-round pick Chris Brazzell, posted some highlight-reel catches off throws from quarterbacks Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett.
Meiga will be battling with the likes of Dan Chisena, David Moore, Ja’seem Reed, John Metchie, Brycen Tremayne, Ainias Smith, Kobe Prentice and Jimmy Horn Jr. for training camp reps and preseason snaps and targets.
Haarberg will now be subject to waivers. With the Nebraska alum off the roster, the Panthers only have five tight ends on the depth chart. Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans lead the group, while journeymen James Mitchell and Feleipe Franks are competing to fill the fourth spot.
The Panthers roster is at the 90-man limit. They also have an NFL International Player Program exemption for linebacker Maz Mwansa.
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 5:03 PM.
