Going 0-3 in the preseason and scoring only two touchdowns is far from ideal. The Carolina Panthers know they’re in a spot to compete for a division title, it’s just about finally putting everything together.
Dave Canales has done everything in his power to surround Bryce Young with the best weapons possible. Though one may be on their way out, Carolina still has a chance to let their rookie receiver run wild.
NFL.com’s Dan Parr Predicts 901-Yard Season for Tetairoa McMillan
Just 99 yards shy of 1,000 is the baseline for Tetairoa McMillan. Dan Parr went through and gave the projected stats for every major rookie coming out of the NFL draft. Not only that, but he broke down the best and worse case scenario for each of them as well.
McMillan’s best case scenario sees, “Bryce Young prove that his strong finish to last season was no fluke, taking another step in his development with McMillan becoming his No. 1 target. The rookie’s combination of size, length and ball skills makes him a true weapon, including in the red zone.”
One of the major question marks about Young’s receiving core is if it will involve Adam Thielen. The 35-year-old has found his name in the news recently as the Minnesota Vikings are looking for a veteran receiver. Having played the majority of his career there, it makes sense for the Vikings to look the Panthers way.
For reference, Thielen had a 1,014 yard season in 2023. He missed seven games last season, but still had 615 yards. It’s going to be incredibly hard for a rookie to step into a veteran’s spot on the roster, but McMillan has been met with glowing reviews so far. If anything, he’ll be in a better position for next year when the Panthers cash in on the trade capitol.
McMillan’s Projected Stats: 72 Catches, 901 Yards, 6 Touchdowns
Every best case scenario has a worst-case scenario. The Panthers have only had two receivers with 901+ yards since 2021. In 2020, they shockingly had two 1,000 yard receivers. Things have regressed since then as the team struggles to find any sort of momentum.
Young being benched could’ve been a career-saving decision. It’s one he wasn’t happy with, but he was an entirely new player for the second-half of the 2024 season. That said, Parr isn’t sure if he’ll look the same in 2025.
“Young regresses and the Panthers’ offense is a mess for much of the season. McMillan’s burst and physicality are not where they need to be, making him an unexciting possession receiver who only flashes on occasion,” he outlines as the worst-case scenario.
Andy Dalton and Young combined for just 3,411 passing yards last season. In total, 18 NFL QB’s had more than that themselves. Even Kirk Cousins and Caleb Williams, who were both heavily critiqued last season, finished above that baseline.
Not a single Panthers receiver had six touchdowns in the past two seasons. Even when DJ Moore and Robbie Chosen had 1,000+ yards each in 2020, neither of them had that many touchdowns. It’s only been done once in the last five seasons, making Parr’s prediction one of the boldest of the bunch.
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