Panthers sign RB Miles Sanders, TE Hayden Hurst

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The Carolina Panthers signed free agent running back Miles Sanders, who rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for Philadelphia.

The Carolina Panthers are busy remaking their offense as the new NFL year started.

On Wednesday, they signed running back Miles Sanders, 25, who spent the last four seasons with Philadelphia and tight end Hayden Hurst from Cincinnati. Both add flexibility at skill positions that new head coach Frank Reich is retooling with the likely transition to a new quarterback with the first pick of next month’s draft.

Sanders, who ran for 3,708 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in the last four seasons, rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. He also caught 50 passes for 509 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie when he was coached in Philadelphia by Duce Staley, who is Carolina’s running backs coach and assistant head coach.

The Panthers have been busy with signings for the offense this week in advance of massive changes next season. In addition to trading D.J. Moore and three draft picks to Chicago for next month’s first pick, Carolina agreed to a new three-year deal with center Bradley Bozeman and quarterback Andy Dalton.

Dalton, a 12-year veteran who spent last season with New Orleans, is reportedly signing a two-year deal that includes $8 million in guaranteed money. Dalton’s presence gives Carolina a stopgap option behind center in the event the expected pick at quarterback isn’t ready to start immediately.

Dalton, 35, has spent 12 seasons in the NFL, including nine with the Cincinnati Bengals. He also spent two years with the Dallas Cowboys.

Adding Hurst, 29, gives the Panthers a target they needed in the passing attack. Hurst caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati last season – productivity that eclipsed all Carolina tight ends combined (50 catches for 417 yards and three touchdowns).

The Panthers restructured the contract of punter Johnny Hekker, which gives them some salary cap flexibility to sign free agents.

Hekker, 33, who signed a three-year deal last year, averaged 48.5 yards per punt last season and landed 39 kicks inside the 20-yard-line, his best since 2016 when he had 51 for the Los Angeles Rams.

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