Carolina Panthers sign TE Heinrich Haarberg

Carolina's signing of Haarberg on a three-year deal worth $3.1M total ($1.03M AAV) earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a modest investment in depth that reflects realistic market pricing for a reserve tight end but carries meaningful execution risk. At this salary tier, the Panthers are paying replacement-level money for a player who profiles as a developmental prospect rather than an immediate contributor, which is appropriate for an offseason addition in a non-premium role. The CVI grade acknowledges the deal's cap efficiency — the low AAV provides real flexibility — but tempers that upside against the lack of proven production justifying anything higher than a supporting-cast valuation. For a team sitting at 8-9 and steady sentiment after a disappointing recent stretch, this is the type of low-stakes, low-cost gamble that makes sense: minimal dead-cap exposure, no bloated guarantees anchoring the books, and room to cut with minimal cap consequences if Haarberg doesn't develop. The risk lies in opportunity cost — three years of roster depth dollars spent on an unproven commodity — but the absolute financial commitment is small enough that this move functions more as a swing than a bet-the-farm play.