Carolina Panthers sign WR Dan Chisena

Dan Chisena's signing earns a C- Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a low-cost depth acquisition that represents minimal financial commitment but equally minimal on-field impact. At $1.215M for what appears to be a one-year deal, the Panthers are paying replacement-level pricing for a reserve receiver—the kind of transaction that carries zero cap risk and doesn't meaningfully alter the roster construction equation. The value equation here is straightforward: the team gets a low-maintenance option on the margins of the depth chart without tying up meaningful resources, but there's no upside embedded in the contract because the player's tier and role don't afford it. Chisena carries minimal leverage and injury risk simply by virtue of his modest salary; if he underperforms or gets injured, it's a wash. For an offseason move in a preseason phase, this is the sort of efficient filler signing that doesn't demand scrutiny—it neither helps nor hurts, and it costs almost nothing to reverse.