Wesley Walls, after earning a Super Bowl ring as a reserve with the 49ers and spending two solid seasons in New Orleans, joined Charlotte in 1996 as a high-profile free agent. This move drastically changed his career path—and the Panthers' offense—immediately, establishing him as one of the top tight ends of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Walls blended traditional inline strength with the smooth route-running of a large wide receiver. Serving as Kerry Collins and Steve Beuerlein's reliable safety net and main target in red-zone situations, he excelled at running intermediate seam routes, finding openings in zone coverage, and using his ability to high-point the ball to out-jump linebackers and safeties in confined areas.

In 1996, during Carolina's second year, Walls made a notable impact. He caught 61 passes for 713 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and Second-Team All-Pro honors. His performance helped the expansion team win the NFC West division and reach the NFC Championship Game.

In 1997, he repeated that elite performance, recording 58 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns, earning a second consecutive Pro Bowl selection and a Second-Team All-Pro honor.

His stellar statistical campaign came in 1999. Walls delivered an outstanding season, catching 63 passes for 822 yards and 12 touchdowns—tying the NFL single-season record for touchdown catches by a tight end at that time. That impressive performance earned him a third Second-Team All-Pro honor and his fourth straight Pro Bowl invitation. Walls celebrated his fifth and final Pro Bowl selection in 2001 after making 43 catches and scoring five touchdowns.

Following seven seasons as a fixture in Charlotte, the organization shifted toward a youth movement in 2003, leading to Walls' release. He spent his final NFL season with the Green Bay Packers in 2003 before hanging up his cleats.

Walls played seven seasons with the Panthers (1996–2002), appearing in 98 games (95 starts), with 324 receptions, 3,902 yards, and 44 touchdowns—the franchise record for tight ends. In 2019, he was inducted into the Panthers Hall of Honor alongside Jake Delhomme, Jordan Gross, and Steve Smith Sr.