The Carolina Panthers were far from good in 2024, posting a 5-12 record and finishing tied for last in the NFC South.
However, that was a marked improvement over 2023, when the team went 2-15 and “earned” the first overall pick in the draft, only to surrender it to the Chicago Bears due to the Bryce Young trade from a year prior.
In the first year of the Young-Dave Canales pairing, Carolina ranked 23rd in points per game (20.1) and 29th in yards per game (298.0) on offense. Bad? Yes. A notable improvement over 2023 when they finished dead last in both categories? Also yes.
With Young established as the quarterback of the future after returning with a vengeance following his mid-season benching, the team now needs to provide him with the weapons to help him flourish.
Though they’ve failed to do that so far this offseason — running back Rico Dowdle is the only notable skill-position player they signed in free agency — the Panthers could pair Young with the best receiver he’s worked with since his Alabama days in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers Projected To Select Tetairoa McMillan in 2025 NFL Draft
In the latest Pro Football & Sports Network mock draft, the Panthers are expected to take the best receiver in the class with the No. 8 overall pick.
“The Carolina Panthers need to surround Bryce Young with more weapons, and Tetairoa McMillan could be the missing perimeter presence required to take the offense to the next level,” author Owain Jones writes.
“The Arizona Wildcats wide receiver offers above-average athleticism, and McMillan’s large catch radius allows him to win possession and to correct and haul in less accurate balls.”
The Panthers have one of the shallowest wide receiver rooms in the NFL. Last year’s first-round pick, Xavier Legette, showed flashes in his rookie season, but he ultimately recorded just 49 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns. He’s far from a proven WR1.
The current depth chart has him flanked by 34-year-old veteran Adam Thielen (62/615/5 receiving line in 2024) and undrafted youngster Jalen Coker (32/478/2). Longtime Canales disciple David Moore was re-signed by the team as depth this offseason.
This is a relatively weak wide receiver class, at least compared to the last few years, as McMillan and Texas wideout Matthew Golden are the only receivers projected to go in the first round (not including cornerback/receiver hybrid Travis Hunter). Juxtapose that with the record-tying seven that were selected on opening night of the 2024 draft, and it’s clear to see why the Panthers (or anyone) would use their top pick on the Arizona product.
Before getting benched after Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, Young had started 18 games and had thrown for 3,122 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, completing 59.3% of his passes with a passer rating of 70.9.
In 10 games after regaining the starting job, Young threw for 2,104 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions, completing 61.8% of his attempts with a passer rating of 88.9. Young also finished with a No. 28 ranking and D+ grade (67.8) in PFSN’s QB+ metric; though not an impressive finish, it was ahead of the likes of Jameis Winston, Trevor Lawrence, and rookie first overall pick Caleb Williams.
If McMillan helps unlock that latter version of Young, he’ll be worth every bit of draft investment the Panthers could sink into him.
