Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Bryce Young potentially turned his career around after being benched early last season. He struggled the first two weeks, regained the starting job in Week 7, and rebounded well going 4-7 down the stretch.
The Panthers looked like a different team once Young re-entered the lineup, and ESPN NFL Analyst Field Yates predicts the team will add a big-name receiver at No. 8.
Yates Says Panthers Will Select Arizona Wide Receiver
Young was quickly approaching “bust” territory after going 2-14 as the starter in 2023 and two poor showings to start 2024.
First-year head coach Dave Canales lifted Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton, but the second-year quarterback was thrust back into the starting lineup after Dalton was involved in a car accident.
After returning, Young put together an impressive final 11 starts and finished No. 28 in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
He had a 0.58 EPA/DB and a 50% third-down conversion rate for the season, and was excellent from a clean pocket (0.60 EPA/DB; fourth), when pressured (0.46 EPA/DB; fifth), and with the game on the line (0.63 EPA/DB; fifth).
However, it wasn’t all great for Young. Some other concerning numbers for Young are that he converted just 31.8% of third downs (33rd) this year, has a 5.8 nYPA (34th), with a 1.7 touchdown-to-interception ratio (23rd). He completed just 60.9% of his passes (35th) and averaged 171.6 passing yards per game (35th).
So how will Carolina help its revived quarterback? In his latest mock draft, Yates predicts the team will select Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan with the ninth-overall pick.
Yates wrote, “Impact pass rushers should not be overlooked here — even though Carolina has added both Pat Jones II and Bobby Brown III — but the Panthers must also continue to invest in offensive players around quarterback Bryce Young. They haven’t added to the receiver room, and there are big question marks there.
“McMillan is my top-rated wideout and has the 6-foot-4 size and smooth route-running ability to emerge as Young’s top target in relatively short order.”
The Arizona product is arguably the best receiver available in the 2025 NFL Draft. He measured 6’4 1/8″, 219 pounds at the 2025 Scouting Combine, and leaves college after two highly productive seasons.
McMillan put up 84 receptions, 1,319 yards, and eight touchdowns in his final season at Arizona. This came on the heels of 90 catches, 1,402 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a true sophomore the year before.
He’d immediately impact the Carolina’s offense, but PFSN’s latest mock draft disagrees with Yates. PFSN’s David Bearman agrees with Yates’ initial thinking of defensive line help for Carolina having them take Georgia’s Jalon Walker at No. 8, and McMillan falling to the Buffalo Bills at No. 30.
Bearman considers the Arizona receiver the “steal of the draft” if Buffalo picks him up at No. 30. McMillan will add juice to whatever team drafts him.
He has very good size and overall athleticism for the position and is a versatile receiver who can line up outside, in the slot, and even attached to the hip of the tight end. He’ll be a matchup nightmare for defenses, and would help continue Young’s upward trajectory.