{"id":871313,"date":"2026-04-21T16:57:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871313\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T16:57:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:57:50","slug":"tetairoa-mcmillan-reveals-major-change-he-made-going-into-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871313\/","title":{"rendered":"Tetairoa McMillan Reveals Major Change He Made Going into 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Tetairoa\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan shared that he has worked to put on more weight this offseason.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Panthers<\/a> found a good one in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, taking Tetairoa McMillan<\/a>. As a rookie, McMillan went on to become the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but that doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t some clear room for improvement.<\/p>\n

With the offseason program underway, McMillan met with reporters on Tuesday. There, he shared that he made a big change this offseason, working hard to gain weight. In fact, he managed to put on more than 10 lbs as he\u2019s working to get back to his ideal weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust getting my strength and my power back,\u201d McMillan said<\/a>. \u201cPeople don\u2019t know, but I was the same weight my rookie year as I was my freshman year of college. I wasn\u2019t used to playing that small. I felt pretty weak.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tetairoa McMillan said he played last season at 205 lbs<\/p>\n

Same weight he was as a freshman at Arizona. \u201cI couldn\u2019t get my weight back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said he put back on 10+ lbs this offseason, closer to his \u201cideal weight\u201d <\/p>\n

McMillan would share that he played last season around 205 lbs, but he\u2019s more comfortable sitting around 215 to 220 lbs. That\u2019s where he was at in college, after all, which makes him confident this won\u2019t hurt his speed but help his strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weight that I\u2019m at now is the weight I\u2019d normally been at in college,\u201d McMillan said. \u201cSo, I\u2019m kind of just used to it. Got my power back, which allows me to be faster and stronger. So, my focus was more in the weight room. Strength, diet, stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tetairoa McMillan had a Phenomenal Rookie Season for the Carolina Panthers\"Tetairoa<\/p>\n

GettyCarolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan<\/p>\n

It\u2019s impossible to have expected more from Tetairoa McMillan during his rookie season than what he provided to the Carolina Panthers. It was a performance that helped Bryce Young<\/a> take a step forward as a quarterback and got the Panthers back to the playoffs.<\/p>\n

McMillan finished with 70 receptions on 122 targets. That was good for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns on 14.5 yards per reception.\u00a0He would rightly be acknowledged as the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the effort.<\/p>\n

That isn\u2019t to say there isn\u2019t room for improvement, though. Notably, McMillan had a catch rate of just 57.4% a season ago. He also had a bit of an issue with dropping the ball, getting credited with eight of them. So, if McMillan is now stronger, he can hope to fight through contact against defensive backs and be stronger with the ball.<\/p>\n

The Carolina Panthers are Expected to Add Another Offensive Weapon\"Dave<\/p>\n

GettyCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that the Carolina Panthers have some need at tight end going into 2026. It\u2019s a spot where, with another weapon for defenses to think about, Bryce Young will have another option and secondaries will have to focus on someone other than Tetairoa McMillan.<\/p>\n

The most likely avenue for the Panthers to add a tight end is going to be the NFL Draft. There, they\u2019ve been linked to the likes of Kenyon Sadiq<\/a> from the Oregon Ducks<\/a> and then Max Klare<\/a> from the Ohio State Buckeyes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Then, of course, there is also still the option to trade for a tight end. Chicago Bears<\/a> tight end Cole Kmet<\/a> has become a common rumor<\/a>. After all, the Bears have less need to keep paying him and the Panthers have the need.<\/p>\n

The NFL Draft will open on Thursday, April 23rd. How the Panthers handle business at tight end will be an interesting plotline to follow.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDan Morrison<\/a> After graduating from UMass in 2019, Dan Morrison quickly began a career in sports journalism and digital media. That has seen him work both as a contributing writer at several publications, as well as spending time on the National News Desk at On3. During that time, he has spent the majority of his time covering football, both at the college and NFL levels. Currently residing in Central Florida, his focus with Heavy is on the NFL. More about Dan Morrison<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Panthers\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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