CHARLOTTE — The Panthers came out of the draft with a need for a return man, and brought in one of the best in the league Monday.
The team agreed to a one-year deal with wide receiver/returner Andre Roberts.
The 34-year-old Roberts was an All-Pro pick three times in the last four seasons, and led the league in kickoff return yards last year (1,010, with two teams). His 8,578 combined return yards (kickoff and punt) are the most of any player in the league since 2010.
He had a 101-yard touchdown return on a kickoff for the Chargers last year, evidence he's still able to make big plays.
He has career averages of 26.0 yards per kickoff return, and 8.7 yards per punt return.
The Panthers averaged just 22.1 yards per kickoff return last year, 17th in the league in that category.
The Panthers were looking for an upgrade in the return game during the draft, but weren't able to acquire one over the weekend. Roberts is an acquisition in the mold of veteran punter Johnny Hekker, the All-Decade pick from the 2010s who came in this offseason in free agency and added immediate credibility. New special teams coordinator Chris Tabor's a significant part of that as well.
Roberts grew up in Columbia, S.C., and played at The Citadel. He entered the league as a third-round pick of the Cardinals in 2010. He's also spent time with Washington, the Lions, Falcons, Jets, Bills, Texans, and Chargers.
A three-time Pro Bowler and South Carolina native, Roberts has played for the Chargers (2021), Texans (2021), Bills (2019-20), Jets (2018), Falcons (2017), Lions (2016), Redskins (2014-15) and Cardinals (2010-13).
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) during the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) points to the Rams players after a scuffle as he runs to the sidelines with teammate Andre Roberts (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals' Andre Roberts reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Friday, Aug. 9, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Arizona Cardinals' Andre Roberts (12) celebrates his long pass reception against the Indianapolis Colts with teammate Larry Fitzgerald, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Colts 40-11. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates his touchdown with teammates Andre Roberts (12) and Jaron Brown (13) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) celebrates his touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) pulls in a pass against the Detroit Lions during the first half of a NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Washington Redskins' Andre Roberts, right, tries to slip past Philadelphia Eagles' Brandon Boykin during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Washington Redskins wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) runs against Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Washington Redskins' Andre Roberts returns a kick against the New England Patriots during a NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday Nov. 8, 2015. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Washington Redskins wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) is tackled by Tennessee Titans long snapper Beau Brinkley (48) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)
Washington Redskins wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Washington Redskins' Andre Roberts (12) returns a kick against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) runs away from New York Giants' Roger Lewis (82) and Zak DeOssie (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Andre Roberts returns a punt return for a 55-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Philadelphia Eagles free safety Rodney McLeod (23) closes in on Detroit Lions wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) to make a tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions' Andre Roberts (12) returns a punt during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Atlanta Falcons return man Andre Roberts (19) runs with the ball during a week 14 NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 in Atlanta. (Mike Zarrilli/AP Images for Panini, via AP)
Atlanta Falcons' Andre Roberts (19) returns a punt against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Roberts (19) stiff-arms Detroit Lions defensive back Charles Washington during the second half of an NFL football game, in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Atlanta won 30-26. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Atlanta Falcons' Andre Roberts returns a kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Roberts (19) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Roberts receives a punt during the first half of an NFL football wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Andre Roberts in action during the first half of an NFL football wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Atlanta Falcons receiver Andre Roberts (19) fields a punt by the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
New York Jets wide receiver Andre Roberts (3) reacts against the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason NFL football game Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Jets' Andre Roberts (19) returns a kick during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets' Andre Roberts returns a Green Bay Packers kickoff for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
AFC return specialist Andre Roberts (19), of the New York Jets, runs against NFC safety Michael Thomas (31), of the New York Giants, during the first half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
New York Jets' Andre Roberts (19) avoids a tackle from Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby while returning a kickoff for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) runs from New England Patriots defenders Devin McCourty (32) and Byron Cowart (99) in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Buffalo Bills Andre Roberts (18) returns a punt during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Orchard park, N.Y., Sunday Nov. 29, 2020. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) plays during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Buffalo Bills Andre Roberts (18) returns a punt during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Orchard park, N.Y., Sunday Nov. 29, 2020. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) runs with the ball knocking down Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
AFC receiver Andre Roberts (18), of the Buffalo Bills, runs in front of NFC linebacker Jaylon Smith (54), of the Dallas Cowboys, after catching a pass during the first half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) runs with a kick reception against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) stiff-arms New York Jets linebacker Blake Cashman (35) while running the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in East Rutherford. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) in action during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts carries the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019 in Cleveland, O.H. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
AFC receiver Andre Roberts (18), of the Buffalo Bills, runs a route during the first half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game against the NFC Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans' Andre Roberts (19) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Roberts (19) returns the kickoff against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Roberts (19) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Roberts (19) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) runs on a kickoff return during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Patriots won 27-24. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) celebrates after a kickoff return during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers won 34-13. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers won 34-13. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) runs on a kickoff return during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers won 34-13. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) runs during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers won 34-13. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) walks back to the locker room before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts scores a touchdown on a kick return during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) runs the ball on a kickoff return during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. Kansas City won 34-28 in overtime. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) runs after the catch during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. Kansas City won 34-28 in overtime. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts runs with he ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Chargers kick returner Andre Roberts returns the kickoff during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Andre Roberts (7) returns a kickoff during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
