Panthers sign WR Malick Meiga ahead of mandatory minicamp, waive TE Heinrich Haarberg

The Carolina Panthers made a late spring roster adjustment on Monday, signing undrafted rookie wide receiver Malick Meiga ahead of this week’s mandatory minicamp. The move came with a corresponding change at tight end, with the team waiving Heinrich Haarberg to create roster space.

Meiga, a Canadian product, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, and the Panthers positioned him as a size addition to a receiving group that has trended larger in recent offseasons. In his most recent college season at Coastal Carolina, he produced 19 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown, a stat line Carolina used to frame the potential he brings into pro workouts.

Mandatory minicamp is one of the league’s key offseason checkpoints, because it forces teams to evaluate players in a more structured environment than OTAs and gives new signees a narrow window to learn routes, timing, and the team’s day-to-day habits. For Meiga, that means the immediate question becomes how quickly he can separate during drills and demonstrate reliability on the ball, especially as the Panthers look at his fit among the receivers already in the mix.

Haarberg’s path to Carolina has been defined by versatility. The Panthers previously signed him in mid-May after his transition from quarterback to tight end at Nebraska. In Carolina’s description at the time, he evolved from a gadget-type player into a full-time tight end, in a role compared to Taysom Hill-style usage. Haarberg is listed at 6-foot-4 and 237 pounds, and the team noted he caught 11 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown while also compiling a 5-3 record as a starting quarterback in 2023.

The fact that Carolina waived Haarberg to bring in Meiga highlights the reality of spring roster management: teams shuffle roles and priorities quickly based on what they need most for the next set of practices. It does not necessarily settle anything about Haarberg’s long-term NFL prospects, but it does suggest that, at least for this minicamp window, the Panthers wanted to allocate a roster spot toward adding another body at wide receiver.

What to watch next is straightforward. Meiga will have the chance to earn reps and show whether his size translates into consistent production at the catch point during minicamp. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ tight end group will continue to be evaluated without Haarberg on the active 90-man roster, and any subsequent roster moves in the coming weeks will indicate whether Carolina plans to replace his versatility with another developmental option or rely on established depth for camp.