DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST


Carolina Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan earned the Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year Award, the second Panther to earn the prize after Cam Newton in 2011.


Tetairoa McMillan proved plenty of NFL “insiders” wrong. 

While doing so, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie wide receiver validated the job reference quarterback Bryce Young provided to general manager Dan Morgan prior to the 2025 draft.

A pair of Southern California natives, Young and McMillan connected during a summer football camp, and it helped guide the defense-needy Panthers to select the former Arizona standout No. 8 overall.

Citing a lack of separation skill, McMillan received a mid-to-late first-round grade from a series of draft pundits. Young witnessed something different and scheduled a sit-down with Morgan. 

“I’m just fortunate that he sat on the table for me,” McMillan said of Young’s lobbying. “That connection is gonna be something special.”

Drafted over several top edge prospects, McMillan validated the prognostication with produced 70 receptions, 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.  On Thursday, he hauled in The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. 

Effortless effort

Young and McMillan were familiar with each other during their high school years. During Young’s senior season, he led Mater Dei High to a win against Servite High in a nationally televised matchup. McMillan was a sophomore, just beginning to build his reputation as an acrobatic prospect. 

As Young earned the 2021 Heisman Trophy at Alabama, McMillan prepared to advance to his next stage at Arizona, where he continued to progress. By the time Young and McMillan reunited last summer, the groundwork was laid for the Panthers to make a surprise pick.    

“Every time we watched him, we’re like, ‘Another great catch,’” Morgan said of his film review. “He’s effortless. The way he catches the ball and he catches everything outside his frame. His body controls (are) some of the best I’ve seen in a while.” 

That’s how McMillan helped overcome his top pre-draft knock: could he constantly create separation from defensive backs? At Arizona, he utilized his 6-foot-4, 219-pound frame and long arms to make up for any lack of elite speed.  

McMillan snapped Kelvin Benjamin’s franchise rookie record of 1,008 receiving yards (2014) and became the first Carolina player to earn the AP’s top rookie honor since quarterback Cam Newton (2011). 
Panthers coach Dave Canales started recognizing McMillan’s potential not long after rookie camp opened last May. 

“He looks smooth, easy to throw to,” Canales said. “Just like we thought.”

Despite the injury-plagued defense yielding an all-time league-worst 534 points in 2024, Young needed help on offense. The pass offense ranked No. 30, averaging just 187.5 yards per game and No. 24 in plays that generated at least 20 yards. 


McMillan, along with the emergence of Jalen Coker, provided Young a deep outlet. Twenty-seven of his receptions went for at least 16 yards. He also caught six fourth-down conversions and totaled 55 receiving first downs, tops among all rookies.

 
“Jalen and T-Mac, they produced for us in an incredible way,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. “The chemistry they have with Bryce has certainly grown. They’re going to have the first opportunity to be out there to start [in 2026]. You want those guys on the field.”   

In a vote of 50 electors, The AP selected McMillan over five other finalists: New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, Tampa Bay receiver Emeka Egbuka, New England running back TreVeyon Henderson and New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough. 

McMillan, the lone finalist to start all 17 regular-season games, helped the Panthers (8-9) capture their first NFC South title since 2015. 

“For T-Mac, he has a general football understanding of timing for the quarterback, also, where the window (is) to throw,” Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said in November. “So you’ll see him a lot of the time, his routes don’t look like the lines on the page, but he gets to the window in the appropriate amount of time for the quarterback to garner that trust of ‘I know if I get to this window on my timing, he’s going to be there for me.’”   

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