Four games into 2025, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie class looks like a tale of two sides. On offense, the newcomers are fueling hope and a sense of identity. On defense, the learning curve has been steeper.
First-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has been everything Carolina hoped for and more. He’s already the offense’s go-to target, leading the team in catches and big plays while handling a heavy workload.
His size, contested catch skills, and timing have made him a challenge for defenses and a stabilizer for an offense still finding its footing. Defenses have to respect him vertically, which has opened space underneath for others.