The Carolina Panthers made a bold statement in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan despite glaring defensive needs, signaling their commitment to building around quarterback Bryce Young. The success of both McMillan and his counterpart in Jalen Coker hinges largely on whether the Panthers’ offensive transformation under head coach Dave Canales can unlock Bryce Young’s potential.
Tetairoa McMillan Fantasy Outlook
Mason LeBeau Analysis: There is still just enough pessimism around the Panthers that Tetairoa McMillan is a great value despite his top-10 draft status. Last year, Malik Nabers was the WR23 in drafts, going in the late 4th round. Meanwhile, “TMac” is WR25, but going a round later. While Nabers remains the superior prospect, McMillan has plenty of merit and is entering a much better situation.
The Panthers desperately needed a go-to option in this offense, so much so that they passed on several excellent defensive prospects in the draft for McMillan. Considering the state of their defense, that says quite a bit about how they feel about him and how they plan to operate.
TETAIROA MCMILLAN NOW HAS FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AND 248 RECEIVING YARDS 🔥
IT’S ONLY THE THIRD QUARTER 😳 pic.twitter.com/WD7u2uTluc
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2024
That should make this decision easy — do you believe in what we saw from Bryce Young at the end of last season? If so, this can be an excellent pairing and great value for his price. If not, pass on him.
I’m not reaching out to him because there are enough questions around this team to be wary. But, I’m ending up with plenty of shares because I believe in the talent, AHC Dave Canales, and the likely necessity to pass if the Panthers want to win games.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
Jalen Coker Fantasy Outlook
I think there’s a little fire to this one — it’s a little crazy to me he’s fallen as far as WR92, so that makes him a waiver target at most in your standard leagues, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.
As a second-year UDFA, Coker managed not only to make the roster last season but also to crack the starting lineup for a Panthers’ team looking for a boost. While he didn’t make a notable difference early on, he managed a pair of WR15-plus finishes throughout the season, including a 110-yard performance in Week 15.
It was crowded room with Adam Thielen and others on the roster, but with the former Viking returning home be, I’d think that means the coaching staff has a ton of confidence in Coker. For deeper leagues, he is an easy stash. In redraft, monitor the situation here and see if you can nab a usable FLEX option if you believe that this Panthers’ offense can take a leap forward.
– Mason LeBeau, Fantasy Football Analyst
