Who Should I Start? James Mitchell or Travis Vokolek

Tuesday, January 21, 10:17 PM

The Carolina Panthers announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end James Mitchell and outside linebacker Boogie Basham to Reserve/Futures deals. Mitchell was a former fifth-round selection by the Detroit Lions in 2022 out of Virginia Tech. He was with the Lions on their practice squad in 2024 and will now try to make Carolina's active 53-man roster for the 2025 season. In 30 games over three seasons in the NFL, he has only recorded 13 catches for 141 yards and one touchdown in Detroit. Basham, meanwhile, was a second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills in 2021 out of Wake Forest. He'll reunite with general manager Dan Morgan, who was in Buffalo's front office when he was drafted. In 40 games over his four years in the NFL, Basham has 4.5 sacks. He was traded to the New York Giants in 2023.

Monday, March 24, 8:30 PM

Exclusive-rights free-agent tight end Travis Vokolek officially signed his one-year tender offer on Monday to return to the Arizona Cardinals. It was merely a formality, as his lone option was to sign and remain with Arizona after they extended him a tender earlier this month. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent will now return in 2025 for his third season with the team. Vokolek has only appeared in three games with the Cardinals in his two seasons in the NFL and has yet to be targeted or catch a pass on offense. The Nebraska alumni will merely be competing for a roster spot in training camp this summer as a special-teamer and for tight end depth. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder originally joined the Cardinals in 2023 after being signed off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad that December. On offense, Vokolek is a blocking-first tight end.