Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, most people, including media, analysts and fans thought the Panthers would use their 8th overall pick on a defensive player. But Dan Morgan, who’s not known for having the best poker face, fooled everyone when it was announced that Carolina selected Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first round. Coming off a season where they performed historically bad, there’s no question that the Panthers have to improve on defense, but I’m not mad at their first-round offensive selection and here’s why:
A True Wide Receiver Duo
Mike Evans and Chris Goodwin. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. AJ Brown and DeVante Smith. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad.
In the NFL having one good wide receiver is nice, but having two good receivers is better. The Panthers now have two first-round wide outs in Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan – with the talent and upside to be the next top receiver duo.
“You’ve got like a basketball team going on right now,” head coach Dave Canales joked when asked about his receiver corps. “There’s different attributes. The power and speed Xavier brings, Thielen’s craftsmanship; you saw Jalen Coker come on strong last year and Tet brings in this long 6’4″ target to round out the group.”
Although some see McMillan’s selection as an indictment against last year’s first-rounder Xavier Legette. It’s not.
You can have two nice things at one time. Dan and Dave are adding weapons to Bryce Young’s arsenal. The expectation is that Legette will take a leap in his second year and McMillan will be a day-one impact player. It also frees up XL, who has versatility, to move around more within the offense. Couple that with a rushing attack featuring 1000-yard running backs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, and you have an offense that could potentially score with the best of them.
Bryce Young’s Guy
What better way is there to instill confidence and show faith in your young quarterback than drafting the guy he “stood on the table” for?
“He told me he’s been going into Mr Morgan’s office and going into coach Canales’ office and really just standing on the table for me, telling them ‘hey man we need to pick this guy,’ ” McMillan told us draft night. “Although I feel like I did what I needed to do to be in this position, I give credit to Bryce for vouching for me and ultimately for them taking a chance on me.”
It’s even been reported that Young and McMillan have already been working out together in California and developing a connection.
Year three is widely considered a pivotal point for quarterbacks. It’s in that season they’re able to build on the experience of their first two years in the NFL, while refining their skills and solidifying their role as a franchise player. With Bryce heading into his first season with stability at the coaching position and familiarity with the playbook, it’s important to give him everything he’ll need to succeed and that includes McMillan.
Men Lie, Women Lie, Numbers Don’t
We can talk about chemistry, rapport and the Cali camaraderie all day, but the bottom line in the league is can you produce? That’s where Tetairoa excelled in college.
In 2024 McMillan was named First-Team All -Big 12 and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award after making 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. His 1,319 yards and 109.9 yards per game were third nationally, 84 receptions were ninth in the nation and he tied for eighth nationally in touchdown receptions (8).
Tetairoa didn’t put up those type of numbers once, but TWICE.
In 2023 Tetairoa led the team with 1,402 receiving yards and was second on the team with 10 touchdown grabs. He was second in the Pac-12 in receiving yards per game (107.8) and tied for fifth in the conference in touchdown catches (10).
“I think he has really good play speed,” general manager Dan Morgan said. “I think the thing that pops off the tape about Tet is just how smooth he is, his body control, his ability to adjust to all types of throws, his catch radius and his hands are elite. He catches everything outside his frame, and he can win the jump ball down the field and in the red zone. He’s a guy that has 18 touchdowns the past two years, so he puts the ball in the end zone. Obviously, that’s something that we want to do.”
The Panthers dedication to build offensively around Bryce isn’t a bad thing. It’s important to remember just how much they gave up when they selected him with the number one overall pick in 2023. TMac gives him another weapon to make sure that investment pays off.
