The hype around wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan upon joining the Carolina Panthers was palpable. Not even an unfortunate incident at the team's mandatory minicamp could prevent this from growing.
McMillan has an aura that the Panthers instantly gravitated toward during their comprehensive pre-draft assessments. His charisma, effortless playmaking ability, and determined swagger led those in power to the gifted pass-catcher at No. 8 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Most thought Dan Morgan would go with a blue-chip defensive prospect, but this was too tempting to ignore.
The rookie wasted no time in firmly establishing himself. McMillan is an eager learner with a smoothness to his work that's hard not to love. Although the Panthers took extra precautions after the wideout suffered swelling in his knee following a collision, David Newton from ESPN gave a glowing review regarding his immediate impact.
Tetairoa McMillan has been as advertised over early Carolina Panthers' transition
Newton believes McMillan's greatest gift is making everyone around him better. He's making Bryce Young look good. He's also bringing more from Xavier Legette as the pair looks to form a long-term tandem for the Panthers to depend upon.
"Beyond being held out of two mandatory practices as a precaution after a collision the previous day, [Tetairoa] McMillan has been as advertised. He has made everyone around him better because he can play every receiver spot. He has created competition at receiver, something that wasn't there a year ago. His presence has benefited 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette, who believes he and McMillan double the problems for defenses."David Newton
It's still early. Things will ramp up at training camp, which will provide a better understanding of McMillan's possible breakout chances at the first time of asking. But for now, everything is proceeding as planned.
The Panthers didn't draft McMillan to be a development project. They are expecting an immediate return on their investment, and the recent history of top-10 wideouts flourishing immediately raises the stakes further. The former Arizona standout must produce from the moment he steps onto the field and maintain high standards throughout the campaign. Nothing else will do.
These are also the standards McMillan placed on himself. He knows the confidence Carolina has in his capabilities, and he's working extremely hard to repay this faith. The first-year pro isn't lacking in confidence, and this is something his teammates are clearly feeding off during his early transition.
If the same trend continues over the summer, there's just no telling what McMillan and the Panthers' offense might be capable of in 2025.