The Carolina Panthers continue to bolster their roster with the signing of wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. He was already the 17th receiver taken and the 26th overall prospect. This move is expected to have a significant impact on the team‘s offensive strategy, particularly for quarterback Bryce Young, who should be enthusiastic about McMillan‘s arrival.
McMillan has put up an outstanding collegiate career. He tops all collegiate players in contested catches over the last two seasons, giving him a real shot at winning a role as the Panthers’ alpha WR1. His ability to stretch the field and make contested catches will provide Young a go-to option when games get tough. This reliability is essential for creating their offensive base and flow.
A Strong Addition to the Panthers’ Offense
The Panthers landed McMillan after an eye-popping pro day, all of which has fanned the flames of excitement among fans and analysts even further. He has drawn comparisons to Atlanta’s Drake London due to his size and catching ability, making him an ideal fit for the Panthers’ offense under new coordinator Chip Kelly. Beyond having McMillan’s unquestionable talent on their roster, the team has suddenly secured a tremendous foundation for 2025.
McMillan’s addition, though, frees 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette to move into a more situational role. Not only would this move be better suited to help improve Legette’s growth, but it gives Young a more centralized and defined receiving core. Getting the chance to work with McMillan and Legette should certainly raise the overall potency of the Panthers’ passing game.
New offensive coordinator Dave Canales has a sterling track record developing X receivers, making it all the more worthwhile to use a second-round pick on McMillan. His experience will be crucial in helping McMillan reach his full potential and ensuring he fits into the team without a hitch.
Analyst Praise for McMillan’s Potential
Yet, prominent voices within the NFL community have spoken favorably toward the Panthers’ acquisition of McMillan. Fantasy football writer Eric Moody expressed confidence in McMillan’s fit with the team, placing him at No. 70 in his rankings. In addition, NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid praised the Panthers for selecting McMillan, highlighting his skill set and potential contributions to the team.
Now for years analysts have been telling us that a quarterback really excels when he has that big-body wide-out who can go get those contested catches. McMillan is the ideal execution-friendly design and planning practice. So as they attempt to build a new, dynamic, cohesive offensive strategy, he provides Young with a critical weapon.
The overall mood surrounding McMillan is positively electrifying. As such, many experts expect him to soon emerge as a cornerstone player for the Panthers. His combination of size, skill, and collegiate success justifiably creates optimism that he can find similar success at the NFL level.
Looking Ahead
As the season nears, the spotlight will be on Tetairoa McMillan as he gets acclimated to the Panthers’ offense. The franchise has long prioritized building a better receiving corps. This leap of faith would make it clear they mean business in fielding a competitive team moving forward. With young talent like McMillan and established players like Cooks returning to the fold, there’s some considerable hope for the Panthers’ short-term and long-term fortunes.
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