A lot of hope rests on the shoulders of Carolina’s first round draft pick
A resounding 55% of Carolina Panthers fans expect Tetairoa McMillan, the eighth overall pick from the 2025 NFL draft, to be the team’s leading receiver in just his rookie season. He received a convincing majority of the votes over the veteran-on-the-verge-of-retirement in Adam Thielen or the sophomore campaigns of either Xavier Legette or Jalen Coker.
These are heavy expectations for a rookie who has never played a snap in an NFL game. Still, there is a reason to believe. For all that this is one of the most talented receiving groups the Panthers have had in years–on paper–there are significant asterisks next to each of the four guys that made this poll.
Thielen, as mentioned, is not the youngest player in the league. At 34-years old, he is actually the oldest wide reciever in the league. His talent, history, and rapport with Bryce Young are undeniable, but it is wise not to expect him to carry the entire offense like he did in 2023.
The two second-year receivers, are the most intriguing to me in this survey. Legette, the team’s 2024 first round pick, struggled with drops his rookie year. His 56% catch rate left a lot of balls on the field and an increasingly sour taste in fans mouths last year. Coker, on the other hand, lacks the athletic pedigree that McMillan and Legette boast, but posted a more reliable 70% catch rate. As an undrafted free agent, that was enough to capture the hearts of fans.
With reports of Legette spending extra time this offseason working on his hands, it appears he has improved his stock with fans. Twice as many expect him to lead the Panthers in receptions as expect Coker.
McMillan enters the scene as the most athletic receiver in the group. Combine that with a lack of opportunity to disappoint us as yet and, perhaps, it is no surprise that a majority of fans are optimistic about his chances to be Young’s favorite target in the coming season.
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