D-III wide receiver
Tight end Dan Arnold, who agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Panthers on Friday night, came out of Shanley High School in Fargo, N.D., without a scholarship offer, choosing to play wide receiver at Division III Wisconsin-Platteville. He had 2,097 receiving yards in his final two seasons and won the 60-meter hurdles at the Indoor WIAC Championships for good measure.
He was undrafted in 2017, but received an invitation to rookie minicamp with the Saints, who eventually signed him to a three-year contract that summer.
Joe Brady connection
Arnold was with the Saints from 2017-19, working with current Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady when he was an offensive assistant with the Saints in 2017 and 2018.
Arnold was on injured reserve in 2017, but played in 10 games with one start in 2018 and saw action in two games for New Orleans in 2019.
While quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was in New Orleans during those years as well, he and Arnold never hooked up for a completion during the regular season.
Breakout in 2020
Arnold entered the 2020 season with some low-key buzz in training camp. Arnold had just 150 yards in 2018, but recorded over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the final three games of 2019 when he arrived in Arizona from New Orleans.
After some strong training camp practices, NFL Network's Peter Schrager put Arnold's name out there as one to watch in 2020.
Schrager wasn't too far off. In 2020, Arnold became the first Cardinals' tight end since Jay Novacek and Rob Awalt in 1988 to record at least 400 receiving yards and four touchdowns in one season.
Vertically-abled
Arnold is listed at 6-foot-6, making him the tallest skill player on Carolina's current roster (and taller than former tight ends Greg Olsen and Wesley Walls, both listed at 6-5).
Last season, Arnold made a number of incredible leaping catches in the end zone in a late-season stretch that saw him record three touchdowns on four catches against the Rams and Giants in Weeks 13 and 14.
View photos of tight end Dan Arnold during his time with Arizona (2019-20) and New Orleans (2017-19).
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New Orleans Saints tight end Dan Arnold (85) is hit by Dallas Cowboys strong safety Jeff Heath (38) after a catch in the first half of an NFL football game, in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold catches a touchdown pass in front of Los Angeles Rams defensive back David Long during first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New Orleans Saints tight end Dan Arnold (85) celebrates his touchdown reception in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) catches a pass during NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 03, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 18-7. (John McGillen via AP)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) catches the ball in front of Los Angeles Rams defensive back Darious Williams (31) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Arizona Cardinals' Dan Arnold, center, catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) attempts to make a catch as New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Arizona Cardinals' Dan Arnold catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) avoids the hit of Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals' Dan Arnold (85) catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) pulls in a catch as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore (33) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) is up-ended by Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson (30) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold catches a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold celebrates after scoring during first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) catches a touchdown during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 in Glendale, AZ. (Tanner Serrano via AP)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) makes a catch for a touchdown under the defense of Seattle Seahawks defensive back Jayson Stanley (29) during second first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold (85) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New Orleans Saints tight end Dan Arnold (85) pulls in a touchdown reception over Atlanta Falcons defensive back Sharrod Neasman in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Arizona Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold catches a touchdown pass in front of Los Angeles Rams defensive back David Long during first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New Orleans Saints tight end Dan Arnold (85) pulls in a pass in front of Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New York Jets' Godwin Igwebuike (23) tackles New Orleans Saints' Dan Arnold (85) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
