CHARLOTTE – The Panthers have signed unrestricted free agent tight end Ed Dickson to a one-year contract.
Dickson spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, the team that drafted him out of Oregon in the third round of the 2010 draft.
"Ed is a young player who has shown he is a capable blocker as well as receiver in the league," head coach Ron Rivera said. "He provides experienced depth at the tight end position, and we look forward to having him in the mix."
Last year, Dickson started 14 of 16 games and recorded 25 catches for 272 yards and one touchdown. Dickson has played in 60 career games and posted 111 receptions for 1,178 yards and seven touchdowns.
Dickson – who has played in eight postseason games with five starts – recorded two catches for 37 yards in Baltimore's Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Dickson joins Mike McNeill as free agent tight ends acquired by Carolina this offseason. The team also signed tight end/fullback Richie Brockel to a contract extension and re-signed practice squad tight end D.C. Jefferson.
Veteran tight end Ben Hartsock, who was with the Panthers for the last three seasons, remains an unrestricted free agent.
Greg Olsen, who led Carolina with 73 receptions, 816 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2013, returns to lead the position group in his fourth season with the team.
