CHARLOTTE — The Panthers added the target they needed in the passing game Wednesday.
The Panthers agreed to terms with tight end Hayden Hurst, giving the incoming first-round pick of a quarterback a reliable target.
The 29-year-old Hurst caught 52 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals last season.
The former first-round pick of the Ravens (who spent two years with the Falcons) adds the kind of production the Panthers have lacked at tight end in recent years.
The Panthers got 50 catches for 417 yards and three touchdowns from the entire position (four players) last season.
Hurst played two seasons of professional baseball in the Pirates farm system before walking on to play football at South Carolina, where he became an All-SEC player.
It continued a busy offseason for the Panthers heading into the start of the league year at 4 p.m.
In addition to the deal for the top pick in 2023 NFL Draft (which will send wide receiver DJ Moore to Chicago), the Panthers have also agreed to terms on a new three-year deal with center Bradley Bozeman and agreed to a two-year deal with backup quarterback Andy Dalton.
On the other side of the ball, they agreed to terms with defensive tackle Shy Tuttle and safety Vonn Bell, and agreed on a new deal with linebacker Shaq Thompson that will keep the veteran here in the middle of a new defense.
Hayden Hurst was drafted out of South Carolina by the Ravens in 2018 and has played with Baltimore (2018-19), Atlanta (2020-21) and Cincinnati (2022).
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) reacts after making a catch during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) leaps over Buffalo Bills safety Jaquan Johnson (4) during the third quarter of an NFL division round football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL division round football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) leaps over Tennessee Titans linebacker David Long, Jr. (51) in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Bengals won 20-16. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst comes onto the field during introductions before playing the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) prepares to enter the field during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 20-16. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens in during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) walks off the field following a wild-card playoff NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) runs with the ball after a reception against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) greets military personnel before the start of an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers, during the NFL's Salute to Service Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Atlanta. The New Orleans Saints won 21-16. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sep. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst (88) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs a play during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) walks on the field ahead of the start of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst scores against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs after a reception against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter of an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst runs a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Tennessee Titans strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (24) defends as Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) makes a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs with the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) and cornerback Steven Nelson (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (81) runs after taking a pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson 61-yards for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Baltimore Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst celebrates his touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
